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Michigan Central Railway Tunnel

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The Michigan Central Railway Tunnel is a railroad tunnel under the Detroit River connecting Detroit, Michigan , in the United States with Windsor, Ontario , in Canada. The U.S. entrance is south of Porter and Vermont streets near Rosa Parks Boulevard. The Canadian entrance is south of Wyandotte Street West between Cameron and Wellington Avenues. It was built by the Detroit River Tunnel Company for the Canada Southern Railway , leased by the Michigan Central Railroad and owned by the New York Central Railroad . The tunnel opened in 1910 and is still in use today by the CPKC Railway .

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73-670: Prior to the construction of the tunnel, the Canada Southern Railway had several connections to Michigan at its west end, all train ferries . The northern one ran across the St. Clair River , connecting to the St. Clair and Western Railroad . The southern connection crossed the Detroit River south of Detroit , connecting to the Canada Southern Bridge Company at Grosse Ile . Additionally

146-627: A branch (usually considered the main line) split from the line to Grosse Ile at Essex , running to the Detroit River at Windsor . In 1891, the Grand Trunk Railway opened the St. Clair Tunnel at Port Huron , giving it an advantage over the Canada Southern and its car ferries. The Detroit River Tunnel Company was formed August 15, 1905, as a merger of the Michigan and Canada Bridge and Tunnel Company (in Michigan ) and

219-537: A first-year investment of US$ 150  million, and an "ongoing annual requirement" of US$ 50  million, to cover the plaza's operational and staffing costs. On May 14, 2015, during an event attended by Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper, it was officially announced that the bridge would be known as the Gordie Howe International Bridge after Canadian ice hockey player Gordie Howe , whose celebrated career included 25 years with

292-513: A new alignment to the border. The parkway also features 300 acres (1.2 km ) of green space and over 20 kilometres (12 mi) of recreational trails, with seven bridges and two tunnels separating the trails from roads. Full construction of the parkway began in 2011, and was completed in November 2015 at a cost of CA$ 1.4 billion . Construction of the Rt. Hon. Herb Gray Parkway that links to

365-741: A publicly owned bridge would reduce his revenue. A Canadian federal Crown corporation , the Windsor–Detroit Bridge Authority , was established in 2012 to coordinate the bridge's construction and management. Environmental approvals and other permits were approved in the United States and Canada in the early 2010s. Lawsuits by Moroun alleged that the crossing agreement was illegal and the Ambassador Bridge had "exclusivity rights". These lawsuits were denied, along with various attempts to stop property expropriations, allowing

438-727: A railway line between Fort Erie and Sandwich ( Windsor ), with a branch line to Amherstburg . A second branch line was authorized in 1869 between St. Thomas and Sombra the following year. Other significant subsequent legislation included: There was an attempt in 1883 to amalgamate the CSR with the Credit Valley Railway , which was dropped when the CVR opted to merge with the Ontario and Quebec Railway instead. CSR's headquarters were located in St. Thomas, Ontario . The site

511-429: A story on November 2, four days before the vote, which indicated the amendment's "seemingly neutral language masks a very specific—and bitter—political battle". The ballot proposal was defeated by a 60 percent to 40 percent margin, paving the way for the project to proceed. In the 2010s, Moroun undertook several lawsuits alleging that the 2013 crossing agreement was illegal (and should not have been approved by

584-539: Is by chief bridge architect of AECOM, Erik Behrens . Each of its two A-shaped bridge towers, standing 220 m (722 ft) tall, is built on opposite banks of the Detroit River. The road deck itself is held up using 216 cable stays. It will have the longest main span of any cable-stayed bridge in North America at 853 m (2,800 ft), with a total bridge length of 2.5 km (1.6 mi). At

657-644: The American Civil War , with ferries transporting goods and people across the river. A railway tunnel ( Michigan Central Railway Tunnel ) was opened in July 1910, a suspension bridge for road traffic ( Ambassador Bridge ) opened in November 1929, and a road tunnel ( Detroit–Windsor tunnel ) opened in 1930. The Ambassador Bridge is the busiest crossing on the Canada–United States border , with nearly 25% of U.S.–Canada border crossings by trucks using

730-716: The Canada and Michigan Bridge and Tunnel Company (in Ontario ). Construction began in October 1906 under the engineering supervision of the New York Central Railway's engineering vice president, William J. Wilgus . Dredging to construct the tunnel was performed in part by Dunbar & Sullivan , who used a steel dredge ( Tipperary Boy ) to carry out the work. The Michigan Central Railway Tunnel opened for passenger service July 26, 1910. Freight service began September 15 and on October 16 all traffic began running via

803-707: The Detroit Red Wings . In July 2015, WDBA began work procuring a consortium who would design, build and finance the construction of the bridge, as well as operate and maintain it over a 30 year period. The cost of building the Gordie Howe International Bridge escalated by CA$ 3.5 billion as the value of the Canadian dollar declined in 2015–2016. In January 2016, it was reported, due to exchange rates and increased inflation, costs could rise to CA$ 4.8 billion . In July 2016, it

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876-857: The Detroit River International Crossing and the New International Trade Crossing , is a cable-stayed international bridge across the Detroit River , currently under construction. The crossing will connect Detroit , Michigan , United States of America, and Windsor , Ontario , Canada, by linking Interstate 75 in Michigan with Highway 401 in Ontario (through the Rt. Hon. Herb Gray Parkway extension of Highway 401). The bridge will provide uninterrupted freeway traffic flow, as opposed to

949-499: The Keystone Pipeline , the bridge, and other "insulting" decisions. In June 2012, Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper and Michigan Governor Rick Snyder announced an agreement allowing the project to proceed. The Canadian federal government would fund bridge construction, land acquisition in Michigan and the construction of Interstate 75 on-ramps. The Canadian contribution will be repaid from bridge tolls collected on

1022-719: The Michigan Court of Appeals ruled against Moroun's attempt to stop expropriations on the Michigan side of the river, allowing construction of the U.S. plaza to begin. On July 5, 2018, WDBA was announced the consortium "Bridging North America" had been awarded the bridge contract, using a design, build, finance, operate and maintain structure. The consortium consisted of AECOM for design; Dragados Canada, Fluor Corporation , and Aecon for construction; and ACS Infrastructure , Fluor, and Aecon for operations and maintenance. Following construction, Bridging North America will receive monthly payments for operating and maintaining

1095-496: The Michigan Republican Party to prevent MDOT spending money on the bridge (even if MDOT would later be reimbursed by Canada) was reversed, allowing the project to continue. CA$ 20  million of community benefits for local residents on both sides of the Detroit River was also announced. In 2020, the design of new pedestrian bridges over Interstate 75 were unveiled, and work began on the foundations for

1168-585: The New York Central Railroad (NYC) was able to lease the CSR to another Vanderbilt railroad company, the Michigan Central Railroad (MCR), on a 21-year renewable term. Vanderbilt, who owned all three companies, ensured that each one operated independently, through its own autonomous president and board of directors. In 1929, MCR subleased CSR to NYC, its parent company. The company was originally authorized to construct

1241-539: The New York Central Railroad . The CSR was never completely controlled by the New York Central (later part of Penn Central ) or the Michigan Central, as the two together held only about 107,000 of the 150,000 shares outstanding, and the rest were publicly held. The shareholders had received dividends in every year from 1887, and an extraordinary dividend in 1976 triggered a legal dispute that

1314-534: The U.S. State Department ), as well as alleging that they had exclusive rights to a span connecting Detroit to Windsor. In 2015, the Supreme Court of the United States declined to hear a challenge by Moroun regarding the choice of location for the bridge. In June 2016, the last of these lawsuits by Moroun was dismissed, allowing the project to continue. In 2018, the company aired television ads on Fox & Friends asking President Donald Trump to cancel

1387-555: The United States Coast Guard issued a bridge permit, the final federal approval required. A Canadian federal Crown corporation , the Windsor–Detroit Bridge Authority (WDBA) began work in July 2014 to coordinate the bridge's construction and management. The Canadian government allocated US$ 25  million to begin land acquisition on the Detroit side on May 22, 2013. In January 2015, Parsons Corporation

1460-435: The federal government of the United States and Government of Canada confirmed a new border crossing would be constructed between Detroit and Windsor. A bi-national committee was formed to manage the project. An extension of Ontario Highway 401 to the future bridge was also proposed – construction on this extension began in 2011, with the Rt. Hon. Herb Gray Parkway opening in 2015. The various environmental approvals for

1533-514: The standard gauge of 4 ft  8 + 1 ⁄ 2  in ( 1,435 mm ). The railway was leased to the Michigan Central Railroad (MCR) for 99 years in 1883; in 1929 it was subleased to the New York Central Railroad (NYC). Its successors Penn Central (formed 1968) and Conrail (formed 1976) later exercised control before being sold to Canadian National Railway / Canadian Pacific Railway in 1985. The line

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1606-564: The Ambassador Bridge. In 2022, the Detroit Free Press reported that Moroun's family were preparing a case for damages, following the acquisition of properties by eminent domain for bridge construction. Snyder stated that he had "not [been] crazy" about naming the bridge the Detroit River International Crossing, noting that "DRIC" was intended only to be the name of the commission sponsoring

1679-465: The CSR, the Missouri, Kansas & Texas Railroad , Northern Pacific Railroad , Chesapeake and Ohio Railroad and New York and Oswego Midland Railroad were also affected. The CSR's banker, Kenyon, Cox & Co. (of which Drew was general partner) failed, and its bonds were subsequently protested , although some observers felt that the move was unnecessary. CSR subsequently became insolvent, as it

1752-591: The Canadian Port of Entry. Other artworks are being developed, with Canadian artist Jordan Sook commissioned to create an artwork to commemorate the Underground Railroad . Sook was chosen from a selection of Canadian artists from the Black, African and Caribbean diaspora . Canadian artist Douglas Coupland has been commissioned to provide architectural lighting for the bridge. In Canada,

1825-706: The Canadian side of Moroun ownership of the Ambassador Bridge, began running advertisements against the DRIC proposal, calling it a "$ 2.2 billion road to nowhere". The phone number listed for Canadian Transit Company forwarded to a phone number in Michigan, and the Canadian Transit Company previously held its 2011 annual meeting at the offices of the Detroit International Bridge Company. MPP Dwight Duncan advised that he

1898-532: The Canadian side of the crossing. The project will include several pieces of public art . During construction, artworks by local artists were placed on the jump forms within which the bridge towers were built. The art on the Canadian bridge tower was undertaken by artists from Walpole Island First Nation and Caldwell First Nation , with the art on the American bridge tower undertaken by Roberto Villalobos, an artist from Southwest Detroit. Following removal,

1971-586: The Canadian side, and no tolls will be charged on the U.S. side. The crossing agreement also included community benefits for residents on both sides of the Detroit River, including improvements to local neighbourhoods affected by bridge construction. On April 12, 2013, the US Department of State and the Obama administration granted Michigan the permit required to build the bridge, allowing construction to go forward once details were finalized. In May 2014,

2044-512: The City of Detroit sold 36 city-owned parcels of land, underground assets and five miles of city-owned streets in the Delray neighborhood, which is the site of the U.S. Customs facility. A US$ 33  million neighborhood improvement fund for the neighborhood was set up. Residents of the area can stay and have their home renovated or move to a renovated home in a different neighborhood. In May 2018,

2117-477: The Detroit River. With traffic crossing the border expected to grow from 18,500 vehicles a day in 2016 to 26,500 by 2025, the Gordie Howe International Bridge will provide an orderly flow of people and goods between the two countries. Transport Canada retained the engineering firms, Morrison Hershfield , Davis Langdon , and Delcan to develop cost estimates for right of way and utility relocation; design and construction; and operation and maintenance on

2190-507: The Detroit River. However, the enlarged tunnel can still not accommodate the largest rail cars, such as those with stacked 9 ft 6 in "high-cube" shipping containers. In early 2000, CN agreed to sell its stake to Borealis Transportation Infrastructure Trust (a venture of the Ontario Municipal Employees Retirement System ) and use only the St. Clair Tunnel . CPKC and Borealis vested

2263-478: The E. C. Row Expressway. In the United States, the bridge will connect to Interstate 75 with dedicated ramps. 3 km (1.9 mi) of the highway is being rebuilt and widened, local roads will be improved and new pedestrian bridges will be built across the highway. Noise walls will also be built to mitigate impacts to the Southwest Detroit neighbourhood. The multi-use path on the bridge will be

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2336-624: The Federal Highway Administration in a deal reached the week previous to the speech. In August 2011, Michigan State Senator Mike Kowall , when asked by the Windsor Star if enabling legislation for the bridge would currently pass, replied "absolutely not". In October 2011, the Michigan Senate "rejected a bill [that] would have allowed the state to accept $ 550 million from the Canadian government to fund

2409-617: The Government of Canada to consider buying the Ambassador Bridge from Moroun. In a joint statement released after a meeting between newly elected U.S. president Donald Trump and Canadian prime minister Justin Trudeau on February 13, 2017, the two governments reiterated the support of the "expeditious completion" of the project. It was listed as a priority infrastructure project by the Donald Trump administration. In June 2017,

2482-660: The MCRR bridge) were discontinued with that portion of the line through the city removed in 2001. Unlike the rest of the line, however, the Detroit River tunnel is a key part of freight movements across the Canada-US border and still sees a good number of mainline trains. The CASO rarely operated its own rolling stock after acquisition, and its reporting mark was abolished in 1977. Gordie Howe International Bridge The Gordie Howe International Bridge ( French : Pont International Gordie-Howe ), known during development as

2555-566: The Michigan Department of Transportation to make way for the proposed new bridge. The group's state director said the fake notices were intended to get residents to contact state lawmakers, to ask them to vote against the bridge project. Americans for Prosperity charged that the project would be a waste of taxpayer money if toll revenues did not cover debt service. In July 2011, the Canadian Transit Company ,

2628-532: The Michigan Department of Transportation. It was estimated the bridge would generate $ 70.4 million in toll revenues in its first year of operation. In 2010, the Michigan Senate had not approved any authorizing legislation related to the bridge. The Senate Majority Leader Mike Bishop had stated that the Senate would not vote until revenue forecasts were released, reports that were being withheld by

2701-472: The bridge on both sides of the Detroit River had been completed, with road deck construction underway. By November 2022, over 150 m (490 ft) of the bridge towers had been completed. The WDBA noted that the bridge could open in 2025 owing to delays caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, however the builder of the bridge noted they were pushing for a 2024 opening date. By May 2023, cables used to hold up

2774-430: The bridge on the Canadian side was hampered by concerns it could affect Ontario's last known habitat of Butler's garter snakes . During the construction process, biologists relocated the snakes (including eastern fox snakes , and the garters—of which there were a larger number than originally thought), with their new habitats protected by a specially-designed above and below-ground fencing system along affected portions of

2847-552: The bridge over a 30 year period. Construction began on July 17, 2018, with groundbreaking by Minister of Infrastructure Amarjeet Sohi and Michigan Governor Rick Snyder. On September 28, 2018, the WDBA announced the project would cost CA$ 3.8 billion to construct, part of a CA$ 5.7 billion contract with Bridging North America. The bridge was to be completed by the end of 2024. In 2019, preparatory work for major construction continued, with cleaning of contaminated land . An effort by

2920-473: The bridge towers. Construction was impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic , with changes to working practices, travel restrictions and material shortages. In January 2021, foundation work for the bridge towers had been completed, and construction of the 220 m (722 ft) bridge towers was underway. In March 2021, work began to construct the buildings in the Canadian port of entry. By March 2022, legs of

2993-448: The bridge will connect to an extension of Ontario Highway 401 locally named the Rt. Hon. Herb Gray Parkway, on its east side. The parkway is below-grade and has six through-lanes. It follows (but does not replace) Talbot Road and Huron Church Road from a new interchange at the former end of Highway 401 to the E. C. Row Expressway , where it runs concurrently westward for 2 km (1.2 mi). From there, it turns northwest and follows

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3066-496: The bridge, and not the bridge itself. Concerns were also acknowledged that the abbreviated name was too close to that of the Detroit International Bridge Company (DIBC)—that would be too sensitive given its objections to the project. Sometime afterward, the working name for the project became the New International Trade Crossing (NITC), garnering the endorsement of 139 organizations and individuals. It

3139-416: The bridge. The bridge has been criticized for its monopoly status (as no trucks are permitted to use the tunnel), private ownership by billionaire Manuel Moroun and poor maintenance record. Both the bridge and the road tunnel lack direct highway connections on the Canadian side, with city streets and traffic lights between them and Ontario Highway 401 . In the early 2000s, work was begun to investigate

3212-457: The construction of the bridge, US$ 20  million was allocated to various community benefit projects in both the United States and Canada. Projects included support for local community groups, improvements to local parks and trails, and improvements to local streets. Grants were also awarded for home improvements in Delray, and to Walpole Island First Nation. Contractors were also encouraged to employ residents of Detroit and Windsor, and

3285-490: The country's share" of the bridge. One commentator, Bill Mann, noted the rejection, saying "Canada calls the new bridge its biggest infrastructure priority and has even offered to pay for the span. But pesky U.S. special-interest politics intrude once again," as he reviewed a number of "U.S. government actions (and inactions) that show little concern about Canadian concerns". Mann drew from a Maclean's article sub-titled "We used to be friends" about U.S.–Canada relations after

3358-469: The current configuration with the nearby Ambassador Bridge that connects to city streets on the Ontario side. The bridge is named after Canadian ice hockey player Gordie Howe , whose celebrated career included 25 years with the Detroit Red Wings , and who died two years before construction began. First proposed in the early 2000s, the project was met with prominent opposition by Ambassador Bridge owner Manuel "Matty" Moroun , who believed competition from

3431-483: The director of the Michigan Department of Transportation. The Michigan House of Representatives had already passed the measure while the bill was called "doomed" in the Senate. Michigan Governor Rick Snyder supported construction of the new crossing in his first State of the State address on January 19, 2011. His plan would leverage Canadian money to receive a 160 percent match—totaling $ 2.2 billion—on funding from

3504-720: The first legal pedestrian crossing of the Detroit River, connecting to local streets and trails on both of its sides. The bridge will be part of the Trans Canada Trail , linking trail networks on both sides of the river including the Canadian Great Lakes Waterfront Trail , as well as the American Iron Belle Trail and the Great Lakes Way. Crossing the bridge on foot or cycle will be free. Alongside

3577-552: The future bridge deck were starting to be installed. In August 2023, the US bridge tower reached its final height of 220 m (722 ft), with the Canadian bridge tower completed in December 2023. In October 2023, the WDBA explained that major construction would likely be completed by the end of 2024, with elements such as signs and lighting taking another six months to install. WDBA also noted that around 2,300 people were working on

3650-696: The highest point above the Detroit River, the bridge will be 46 m (151 ft) above the water. The bridge will have six lanes for automotive traffic, and a bicycle and walking path. On the U.S side, the port of entry will encompass 68 hectares (170 acres) with border inspection facilities, directly connecting to Interstate 75 with dedicated highway ramps. On the Canadian side, the port of entry will encompass 53 hectares (130 acres) with border inspection facilities, toll collection and bridge maintenance facilities. It will directly connect to Ontario Highway 401. The bicycle and walking path will connect to new and existing trails as well as bike lanes on both sides of

3723-696: The junction), and the Michigan Central Station was built west of the junction, opening in 1913. In 1968, the tunnel passed from the New York Central Railroad to Penn Central , and in 1976 to Conrail . In 1985, Conrail sold the tunnel to the Canadian National Railway and CPKC Railway , with each getting a half share. The north tube underwent a $ 27 million enlargement in 1993 to allow passage of certain types of modern rail cars such as those with stacked containers and auto carriers, which had been previously ferried across

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3796-407: The murals were subsequently donated to organisations and municipalities on both sides of the river. A piece by Canadian artist Sara Graham involves cast concrete patterns on the outside of a maintenance building. An 3 m (9.8 ft) high sculpture of tree bark by Anishinaabe artist Michael Belmore recognizes and celebrates First Nations , which will be visible as traffic enters and leaves

3869-474: The need for a future crossing of the Detroit River by a bi-national partnership of the U.S. Federal Highway Administration , Transport Canada , Ontario Ministry of Transportation and the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT). During development, the project was known as the Detroit River International Crossing and the New International Trade Crossing. In 2004, a joint announcement by

3942-466: The project to continue. The "Bridging North America" consortium was selected in July 2018 to design, build, operate and maintain the bridge, and construction began that month. The CA$ 3.8 billion cost of construction will be funded by the Canadian federal government, paid for by bridge tolls. Construction is expected to be completed in 2025. The passage across the Detroit River between the United States and Canada has been an important traffic route since

4015-507: The project were approved in both the United States and Canada in 2009. In 2009, the Ohio State Senate passed a non-binding resolution expressing support for the crossing, and urged the Michigan government to pass it, due to Canada being Ohio's largest foreign trade partner, with US$ 35.8 billion per year in goods traded between Ohio and Canada. In 2011, the bridge was tentatively scheduled for completion in 2016, according to

4088-584: The project. In late 2019, Trump signed the first U.S. funding for customs and border protection for the bridge into law. In May 2018, the Michigan Court of Appeals ruled against Moroun's attempt to stop expropriations on the Michigan side of the river, allowing construction of the bridge to begin. Further efforts by Moroun to prevent construction were denied in June 2020. In July 2020, Matty Moroun died aged 93, with his family maintaining their ownership of

4161-582: The sale part of its interest in the partnership, so that Borealis held 83.5% and CP held 16.5%. In 2010, the Windsor Port Authority, Borealis Infrastructure, and CPKC announced plans to construct a new rail tunnel compatible with double-stacked trains. The initiative, called the Continental Rail Gateway, was scrapped in 2015, upon the approval of the proposed Gordie Howe International Bridge . CPKC took full ownership of

4234-418: The site at the peak of construction. In January 2024, the WDBA announced that the bridge would open by fall 2025, a delay of 10 months from the planned opening date owing to delays caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. It was also confirmed that the bridge deck would be completed in 2024. The two sides were permanently connected during the early morning hours of June 14, 2024. The cable-stayed bridge design

4307-600: The tunnel in December 2020 following an approximate US$ 312 million deal with OMERS. Amidst its merger negotiations with the Kansas City Southern Railway , Canadian Pacific agreed in early 2022 that Amtrak would be allowed to access the tunnel for passenger service as part of the terms of the merger. This followed three years of efforts by Amtrak to restore Detroit–Toronto passenger rail service. Canada Southern Railway The Canada Southern Railway ( reporting mark CASO ), also known as CSR ,

4380-482: The tunnel into the new Detroit River Tunnel Partnership, and plans were announced to construct a new railway tunnel and convert the existing railway tunnel to a two-lane free flow truckway for transport trucks to alleviate pressure at the other nearby international border crossings ( Ambassador Bridge , Detroit-Windsor Tunnel , and the Detroit-Windsor Truck Ferry ). In June 2009, CPKC announced

4453-447: The tunnel, ending the use of a train car ferry . From opening it was operated by the Michigan Central Railroad under lease of December 19, 1906. It was the first immersed tube tunnel to carry traffic. On the east (Canadian) side, the tunnel connected to the line that had served a train ferry at Windsor . On the west (U.S.) side, the tunnel connected to the Michigan Central Railroad main line west of downtown (later abandoned east of

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4526-498: The wider Metro Detroit and Essex County areas, alongside work to provide apprenticeships and training to workers. The most vocal opposition to the new crossing came from American billionaire Manuel "Matty" Moroun (1927–2020), owner of the nearby Ambassador Bridge. He sued the governments of Canada and Michigan to stop its construction, and released a proposal to build a second span of the Ambassador Bridge (which he would have owned) instead. Critics suggest that Moroun's opposition

4599-450: Was a railway in southwestern Ontario , Canada, founded on February 28, 1868 as the Erie and Niagara Extension Railway . Its name was changed to Canada Southern Railway on December 24, 1869. The 1868 Act specified that it was to be constructed at a broad gauge of 5 ft 6 in ( 1,676 mm ), but that requirement was repealed in the 1869 Act, thus allowing construction at

4672-488: Was announced many properties that would be required to build the bridge were still in the hands of private landowners. Some properties on the American side of the river were owned by Manuel Moroun, owner of the Ambassador Bridge. An estimated 30 of the 900 properties needed were considered to be problems if the owners resist selling. In July 2016, the CBC reported Dwight Duncan , the former finance minister for Ontario had advised

4745-607: Was based on Italianate architecture and is the only known train station in Canada to embody this style. The station was the design of Canadian architect Edgar Berryman (1839-1905). A large car shop, located in the yard, facilitated the manufacture of cars and allowed repairs to be made to locomotives. Steam locomotives were also manufactured for CSR in the car shop, beginning in 1882 and closed sometime after 1905. Types of locomotives made included: Initially all locomotives were built for use by CASO, but some ended their career with

4818-504: Was chosen because St Thomas was roughly equal-distance between Windsor and Fort Erie, Ontario and the city offered a $ 25,000 bonus to the railroad company as an incentive to build within city limits. CSR's main building, the Canada Southern Railway Station , included a passenger station and dining room on the ground floor with the railway's head offices on the upper floor. The extremely long, narrow building

4891-459: Was fueled by the prospect of lost profits from duty-free gasoline sales, which are exempt from about 60 cents per gallon in taxes even though the pump price to consumers is only a few cents lower. In early June 2011, the conservative advocacy group Americans for Prosperity posted bogus eviction notices on homes in Detroit's Delray district. With the words "Eviction Notice" in large type, the notices told homeowners their properties could be taken by

4964-515: Was investigating whether or not the ads violated Ontario's election laws, which disallow public spending by foreign lobbyists. In 2012, Moroun spent more than US$ 30 million promoting a proposed amendment to the Michigan Constitution that, had it passed, would have required approval of both the voters of Detroit and the voters of Michigan in statewide elections to build the bridge. NPR affiliate network Michigan Public aired

5037-399: Was named the general engineering consultant for the bridge. On February 18, 2015, Minister of Transport Lisa Raitt announced Canada would fund the construction of a customs plaza on the U.S. side of the bridge in Detroit's Delray neighborhood. The plaza will have a budget of around US$ 250  million, and be recouped through tolls. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security will provide

5110-663: Was not resolved until 1983. On April 30, 1985, the Canadian National Railway and Canadian Pacific Railway jointly purchased the former CASO from Conrail in order to acquire the Michigan Central Railway Tunnel under the Detroit River and the Michigan Central Railway Bridge at Niagara Falls . Much of the CASO has been downgraded, abandoned or removed by CN and CP over the years. Operations through Niagara Falls (and over

5183-419: Was originally conceived by Kenyon Cox (brother of Jacob Dolson Cox , Governor of Ohio ), Daniel Drew , Sidney Dillon and John F. Tracy to connect with the Wabash Railroad and establish a railway network extending from Lake Erie to the Mississippi River . The Panic of 1873 was responsible for the failure of several large railroads in North America, together with their financial backers. In addition to

5256-471: Was unable to redeem the bonds. Within two years, it was taken over by the railroad magnate Cornelius Vanderbilt at essentially no cost other than taking on the guarantee of them. When Cornelius died in 1877, his son, William Henry Vanderbilt , became head of the Vanderbilt railroad empire. The younger Vanderbilt took steps to separate the various railroad properties he controlled. On 1 January 1883,

5329-636: Was under the NITC name that the project was approved by the U.S. State Department on April 12, 2013. In late 2010, David Bradley, president of the Ontario Trucking Association, proposed naming the bridge in honor of Canadian professional ice hockey player Gordie Howe, who played the bulk of his career for the Detroit Red Wings. The naming was supported by a number of Canadian politicians, along with Howe's son Marty —who felt

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