The Rt. Hon. Herb Gray Parkway

operational

Opportunity More than one-quarter of all Canada-U.S. trade passes through the Detroit-Windsor border, crossing the Ambassador Bridge on 8,000 to 10,000 trucks every day. Once they cross the bridge into Canada, trucks stop and go at 18 traffic lights— tires squealing and fumes spewing throughout residential neighbourhoods in the Windsor-Essex region. Following completion of the Detroit River International Crossing Study in the mid-2000s, which included extensive public consultation and environmental assessments, the study team proposed an end-to-end border transportation system. The system includes the Parkway, a Canadian inspection plaza, an international bridge, a U.S. inspection plaza and interchange, linking Highway 401 in Windsor the U.S. Interstate system in Detroit. Challenges Overcoming the local community’s initial public opposition to the Parkway because it was not designed as a full tunnel. Acquiring 900 properties to make way for the Parkway including businesses, institutions, vacant lands and green space to meet an aggressive completion timeline. Configuring the Parkway to limit its impact on ecologically significant areas. Concerns about the safety of some of the girders fabricated for the Parkway led to the private sector partner’s decision to destroy and replace 500 girders at no cost to the public sector. Innovations The Parkway, which at all times remains owned by the province, was the single largest highway investment in the province’s history and the first road project to use the Ontario’s Alternative Financing and Procurement (AFP) model, a modified version of the first generation of Canadian public-private partnerships. Unique partnerships formed during the project. For instance, the Windsor Essex Mobility Group partnered with local schools to provide work terms for students and with Workforce Windsor Essex, a local organization, to prepare the local workforce for new jobs created throughout the project. The Ontario Ministry of Transportation engaged Walpole Island First Nations to contribute to the archaeology and natural heritage investigations for the Parkway. It also sponsored academic research at the University of Windsor to assess the economic impact of the Parkway. Results The Parkway spans an 11-kilometre corridor and has many community enhancement features including 300 acres of green space, recreational trails, 11 tunnels, protected habitats for plants and animal species, noise barriers and berms, and a below grade freeway to improve air quality. Integrated green space has created a green corridor that supports viable natural communities and buffers surrounding residential from the freeway. The project was a major catalyst for job creation, with an estimated 60 to 80 sub-contracts to local business worth hundreds of millions of dollars. Work and skills development opportunities were provided to Walpole Island First Nation residents, who played an important role in restoration and species at risk transplanting efforts. Materials from demolished buildings purchased by Ontario for the project were reclaimed and recycled through charitable initiatives. The Parkway also reduces heavy traffic in the residential neighbourhoods of Windsor-Essex, increases border security, and provides an alternative route to Canada’s busiest land border crossing.

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