Thanks for the date on the video. Mike loaded one he filmed in August this week. 100 years of fatigue on a steel bridge is beyond most design lives. Have you ever been on a steel bridge when a load moves across it and feel in move?
Thanks Bob, Another great video. I used that bridge for more than half my life. My wife was a Flight Attendant with Delta. WhenI retired I was her Chauffeur and drove her to and brought her home to Cottam. Always on the bridge. I now live in Kentucky and am looking forward touring the new Gordie Howe bridge.
The Ambassador Bridge is an international suspension bridge across the Detroit River that connects Detroit, Michigan, United States, with Windsor, Ontario, Canada. Opened in 1929, the toll bridge is the busiest international border crossing in North America in terms of trade volume, carrying more than 25% of all merchandise trade between the United States and Canada by value.
Just my 2 cents, I think I'd route the majority of commercial traffic to the GHB, with it's direct access to the 401 and I-75, and designate the Ambassador to primarily non-commercial traffic. Again, just my 2 cents.
Upkeep of the Ambassador will be trimmed to bare minimum if not already there . I think there will be a great shift to the Gordie Howe if they can reduce current wait times and from what I read fares will be less .
Great video! I think another con for the Ambassador is four lanes of traffic. I am happy for the communities on both sides of the Ambassador who have suffered from the noise and traffic of all the trucks in their neighborhoods.
The biggest advantage of the new bridge is the direct connection to the 401. Driving through downtown Windsor to get to the Ambassador is a major bottleneck.
I've always enjoyed the Ambassador Bridge crossing, even back in the previous millennium when I had to drive to Ontario for a Tim Horton's coffee. Even back in the 90s I couldn't help noticing what a mess all the trucks idling on the Windsor side were. I think GHB will be fun to cross and, once it's less of a novelty, will make crossing on rhe Ambassador Bridge more enjoyable.
I remember my interactions with the Border People when I would need to go to the Windsor star to service their teletype machines or fax machines. It was an interesting time. I was working for the Associated Press at the time.
The best thing will be when you cross over the Gordie Howe bridge in Canada you’ll be on hwy 401 immediately unlike the ambassador bridge you drive right into Windsor snd get stopped by red lights before getting to hwy 401
i walked across the anbassador bridge in1969 it had holes in the sidewalks and with the trucks crossing the bridge bounced it was scary to cross the tunnel felt safer
When the Gordie Howe Bridge opens, the Marouns will lower the tolls on the Ambassador Bridge to next to nothing. As a result, very few vehicles will ever use the Gordie Howe Bridge leading to a default on the bonds that were issued to build it.
The Blue Water bridge gets much more truck traffic than the Ambassador, last I heard, especially for long-distance traffic, as opposed to intercity traffic between the two cities.
I have for years had friends and business connections in Ann Arbor, Ypsilanti and points west. To get there from Buffalo, NY I have avoided the Detroit/ Windsor area by using the Canadian Rte. 402 to Sarnia and Port Huron and on to Flint Mi and south to my destinations. This route is longer mile wise but saves more than an hour in travel time.
I look at the 2 bridges this way. As a retired truck driverit was early in my career that I crossed the ambassador bridge before going on the highway. My take is the ambassador bridge would never improved the bridge to the extent they just did if not for the new bridge.
My greatest concern is ice buildup on the bridge deck support wires falling off and hitting things below. I wonder if they've thought of that. Probably.
Yes they have.it’s in the whole design of the bridge.for instance one point is how the cable towers are constructed with slopes on the top of them to keep snow and ice from forming.
I remember Crossing the Ambassador and buying Gasoline in Canada because it was cheaper than in Detroit. That's right, I could buy an Imperial Gallon 5 quarts in Canada for less than 4 quarts cost in Detroit. Now days Canadian gas costs way more and is sold by the Liter. I don't think I have used the Bridge for 20-25 years. All you had to do is show your Drivers License back then. My passport expired in 2020 as I never got the XXX-19 Jab and they were requiring that you got an experimental vaccine or you could not cross the Border.
I have to disagree with one point you brought up as a PRO ( in favor ) And that being that the Ambassador Bridge company was recently approved to move hazardous waste materials across its bridge rather taking it across the the Blue Water Bridge 😒 I for 1 DEFINITELY CONSIDERED THAT A CON 😡 bringing those loads across our roads and through out community SHOULD HAVE NOT even approved we’ve seen what HARMS these materials can have and the effects when something goes wrong and the LACK OF ACCOUNTABILITY that is left in its wake …. 🤔 WERE politicians PAID OFF or was this an exchange given to soothe his ego after G.H.B was allowed to be built 😒
Thanks for the date on the video. Mike loaded one he filmed in August this week. 100 years of fatigue on a steel bridge is beyond most design lives. Have you ever been on a steel bridge when a load moves across it and feel in move?
As soon as the GHB is open i will not be using the Ambassador simply because i have seen what the Maroun family have done to the west end of Windsor
Thanks Bob, Another great video. I used that bridge for more than half my life. My wife was a Flight Attendant with Delta. WhenI retired I was her Chauffeur and drove her to and brought her home to Cottam. Always on the bridge.
I now live in Kentucky and am looking forward touring the new Gordie Howe bridge.
The Ambassador Bridge is an international suspension bridge across the Detroit River that connects Detroit, Michigan, United States, with Windsor, Ontario, Canada. Opened in 1929, the toll bridge is the busiest international border crossing in North America in terms of trade volume, carrying more than 25% of all merchandise trade between the United States and Canada by value.
Great information and video Bob Jones Realtor.
Looking and sounding cool!
Thanks for the good work.
Just my 2 cents, I think I'd route the majority of commercial traffic to the GHB, with it's direct access to the 401 and I-75, and designate the Ambassador to primarily non-commercial traffic. Again, just my 2 cents.
I agree, i feel the canadian govt might enact some measure for that as they are looking for a return on their investment
Upkeep of the Ambassador will be trimmed to bare minimum if not already there . I think there will be a great shift to the Gordie Howe if they can reduce current wait times and from what I read fares will be less .
@ from what i understand, fares will be comparable to the tunnel
With "it is" direct access to the 401 and I 75???? @johnbrossack3791
@johnbrossack, With "it is" direct route to the 401and I 75????
Great video! I think another con for the Ambassador is four lanes of traffic. I am happy for the communities on both sides of the Ambassador who have suffered from the noise and traffic of all the trucks in their neighborhoods.
The biggest advantage of the new bridge is the direct connection to the 401. Driving through downtown Windsor to get to the Ambassador is a major bottleneck.
I've always enjoyed the Ambassador Bridge crossing, even back in the previous millennium when I had to drive to Ontario for a Tim Horton's coffee. Even back in the 90s I couldn't help noticing what a mess all the trucks idling on the Windsor side were.
I think GHB will be fun to cross and, once it's less of a novelty, will make crossing on rhe Ambassador Bridge more enjoyable.
I remember my interactions with the Border People when I would need to go to the Windsor star to service their teletype machines or fax machines. It was an interesting time. I was working for the Associated Press at the time.
The best thing will be when you cross over the Gordie Howe bridge in Canada you’ll be on hwy 401 immediately unlike the ambassador bridge you drive right into Windsor snd get stopped by red lights before getting to hwy 401
i walked across the anbassador bridge in1969 it had holes in the sidewalks and with the trucks crossing the bridge bounced it was scary to cross the tunnel felt safer
In your opinion Bob what do you think the toll should be for the GordieHowe bridge thanks for the info
When the Gordie Howe Bridge opens, the Marouns will lower the tolls on the Ambassador Bridge to next to nothing. As a result, very few vehicles will ever use the Gordie Howe Bridge leading to a default on the bonds that were issued to build it.
The GHB is entirely paid for by the Canadian government. It will not be defaulted on.
The Blue Water bridge gets much more truck traffic than the Ambassador, last I heard, especially for long-distance traffic, as opposed to intercity traffic between the two cities.
Funny, I thought the G. Howe Bridge was going to be for trucks, and the Ambassador would remain for commuters.
Does anyone take the Tunnel anymore?
I have for years had friends and business connections in Ann Arbor, Ypsilanti and points west. To get there from Buffalo, NY I have avoided the Detroit/ Windsor area by using the Canadian Rte. 402 to Sarnia and Port Huron and on to Flint Mi and south to my destinations. This route is longer mile wise but saves more than an hour in travel time.
I look at the 2 bridges this way. As a retired truck driverit was early in my career that I crossed the ambassador bridge before going on the highway. My take is the ambassador bridge would never improved the bridge to the extent they just did if not for the new bridge.
My greatest concern is ice buildup on the bridge deck support wires falling off and hitting things below. I wonder if they've thought of that. Probably.
Yes they have.it’s in the whole design of the bridge.for instance one point is how the cable towers are constructed with slopes on the top of them to keep snow and ice from forming.
The back ups on ambasador bridge was alyways us costomes causing it The same thing can happen on the new bridge
I remember Crossing the Ambassador and buying Gasoline in Canada because it was cheaper than in Detroit. That's right, I could buy an Imperial Gallon 5 quarts in Canada for less than 4 quarts cost in Detroit. Now days Canadian gas costs way more and is sold by the Liter.
I don't think I have used the Bridge for 20-25 years. All you had to do is show your Drivers License back then. My passport expired in 2020 as I never got the XXX-19 Jab and they were requiring that you got an experimental vaccine or you could not cross the Border.
🤔 is that still in force ? Or has that ruling been cancelled ?
I have to disagree with one point you brought up as a PRO ( in favor ) And that being that the Ambassador Bridge company was recently approved to move hazardous waste materials across its bridge rather taking it across the the Blue Water Bridge 😒 I for 1 DEFINITELY CONSIDERED THAT A CON 😡 bringing those loads across our roads and through out community SHOULD HAVE NOT even approved we’ve seen what HARMS these materials can have and the effects when something goes wrong and the LACK OF ACCOUNTABILITY that is left in its wake …. 🤔 WERE politicians PAID OFF or was this an exchange given to soothe his ego after G.H.B was allowed to be built 😒