Detroit River Crossings

[Jasoncw]

As you may have heard, Detroit is on a river. Sometimes people want to cross it without getting wet.

Ambassador Bridge

Started in 1927, finished in 1929

Largest suspension bridge (measured by central span) in the world until 1931

Currently 52nd longest

1st busiest Canada-US crossing

Detroit-Windsor Tunnel

Opened in 1930

3rd underwater tunnel in US when opened

3rd tunnel between two nations

2nd busiest Canada-US crossing

Michigan Central Railway Tunnel

It has a name!

Started in 1906, finished in 1910

Directly connected to MCS (1913) to the West

2nd tunnel between two nations

MacArthur Bridge

Built: 1923 (after the original burned down)

19 arches!

Original bridge was first to cross any part of the river

[Allan]

I happen to like the Ambassador the best. The guards there give you less hassle, and the view is good. I do try to avoid it though, because I don't like the troll who owns it. I don't go to Canada much though, since the department of homeland security thinks I'm terrorist because I take pretty pictures of buildings (long story).

The closest I've ever come to experiencing the Michigan Central Tunnel is through the postcard that is still in a pile of postcards on my desk. I'm curious, but I'm not even going to try that one! It's sealed up and guarded on both sides.

[statedude3]

I have to go with the MacArthur bridge because of it's function. (almost) everyone goes to Belle Isle for fun and excitement. It provides tremenous skyline views and it, as well as the island it connects to are a hit for out of town visitors.

[wolverine]

I chose the Ambassador because I like the steelwork and the signs on top.

Michigan Central tunnel..... lol. What's beautiful about that?

[detwaa84]

MacArthur -- easiest to cross.

[Jasoncw]

I think that the rail tunnel is cool in the way that it connects to MCS. I think that it's cool how back in the day something as impressive as MCS and the tunnel could be put together like that, especially in Detroit.

I voted for the Ambassador Bridge, since it also has some nice history to it, and because it also looks good.

I'm not really into the MacArhur bridge though.

[Ramcharger]

I really love the MacArthur Bridge because of its

[TheDetroitCity99]

I like the Ambassador bridge best because it has the look of the gaint bridges in new york and the goldengate in San Fransisco

[nofunk]

I've got to pick the Ambassador for what it does for the skyline.

[wolverine]

Does anyone think it would look cool painted black like it used to be?

[statedude3]

Does anyone think it would look cool painted black like it used to be?

[TheDetroitCity99]

I had forgotten that it was black. I actually like the blue better.

[RustTown]

No, that's a smokestack. I like it black. Everyother bridge, these days, seems to be some color of blue or green, this really made it distinct, and it fit in with Detroit's industrial nature, especially in southwest Detroit.

[Jasoncw]

I know that I don't like the blue color. I just don't like that color.

I'm not sure about black, because of the gritty image it could have.

Was black the original color, or was there a different color even before then?

[TheDetroitCity99]

I think the black is too industrial of a color and the blue lightens up the city. although it would be nice to see a dark blue because blue now looks kind of cheap.

[nofunk]

I like it black. Every other bridge, these days, seems to be some color of blue or green, this really made it distinct, and it fit in with Detroit's industrial nature, expressely in southwest Detroit.

[wolverine]

The black paint was very high gloss. It was sleek, reflective, and modern. So I don't know about a "grit" image, but I do think the black color is classy.

[Jasoncw]

If that's the case, I think black would be good. Hopefully no one on DetroitYes will think it's a symbol of black power, lol.

I'm guessing the bridge will be getting repainted if it is renovated?

[RustTown]

It would seem, at the moment, Matty's not even going to touch the Ambassador until he finds out who's going to win with the second Detroit International River Crossing. But, don't they, at least, paint the bridge every year? I thought they did at least that much if nothing else.

[RustTown]

Remember when we were discussing the color of the Ambassador Bridge? Well, I had no idea (probably too young to have really noticed) that the color of the bridge was black until sometime in the 1990's:

That's a picture I found of the Port of Detroit, and you can tell it's the 1990's because the One Detroit Center is completed. I was able to find that the bridge in the late 50's, the owner experimented and painted part of the bridge aluminium, but found because of the heavy air pollution of the time that the pain got covered by the soot, so he just kept it black. lol I wonder exactly what kind of paint they use, these days?

[hudkina]

I think I like the black better. The blue is okay, but it seems like it is starting to date. I think the next time they repaint it they should go with a darker blue.

[Veloise]

http://www.truckferry.com/

This was a surprise to me. Someone linked it in a response to the inevitable annual "are bicycles allowed on the Ambassador Bridge?" query. (Ans: they used to be.)

[RustTown]

Yeah, for some truck trips, it's actually more practical considering how backed up the bridge can be.

[tapezord]

the "gateway" project was bid today... $170,000,000 infrastructure improvement project located at 75 and the ambassador bridge... if that doesn't help out with the traffic flow through there, I don't know what will...

[tapezord]

correction, it was last month... quite the project

LETTING OF JUNE 08, 2007

PROPOSAL 0706601

ENG. EST. LOW BID

$165,313,031.32 $168,520,599.30

PROJECT IM 82194-37795 , ETC

LOCAL AGRMT. % OVER/UNDER EST. - 1.94 %

START DATE - JULY 05, 2007

COMPLETION DATE - MAY 01, 2010

2.66 mi of concrete road reconstruction, 3.00 mi of

retaining wall construction and 24 structure rehabilitations

on I-75 from Clark Street to 14th Street and on I-96 from

I-75 to south of Martin Luther King Boulevard in the city of

Detroit, Wayne County. This project includes a 5 year

materials and workmanship pavement warranty and a 2 year

bridge painting warranty.

12.00 % DBE participation required

BIDDER AS-SUBMITTED

Walter Toebe Construction Co. $168,520,599.30 1 **

Dan's Excavating, Inc. $169,886,834.45 2

John Carlo, Inc.

Posen Construction, Inc.

2 Bidders