OTTAWA: Canada on Wednesday lauded US voters for giving a greenlight to the construction of a new bridge across the Detroit River that would boost trade between the world's two largest trading partners.
Voters in the US state of Michigan roundly rejected so-called Proposition 6 in a side ballot in Tuesday's US presidential election that called for referendums on any new international bridge proposals.
The 60-40 vote result effectively gives permission to proceed with construction of the international bridge, said officials.
However, the multi-billion-dollar project -- opposed by the owner of an existing toll bridge linking Detroit and the Canadian city of Windsor -- must still be approved by the White House.
The defeat of Proposition 6 "clears the way for the construction of the new bridge," said Canadian Transport Minister Denis Lebel.
"This is good news for travelers, workers and industry on both sides of the border," he told a press conference, saying the project will attract new investment and business opportunities "to boost our local and national economies."
Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper, on a trip to India, said he also is "very pleased to see the support of the people of Michigan for the new bridge between Detroit and Windsor, which is very important to the economies of both our countries."
The proposed bridge has long been in the works to ease border congestion and expedite shipping across North America's busiest border crossing.
But it was delayed on at least three occasions over the past decade by a lack of funding and objections it would compete with an existing bridge for toll traffic.
Matty Moroun, owner of the Ambassador Bridge, the lone crossing between Detroit and Windsor, reportedly waged a losing $30 million campaign against Proposition 6.
More than 28,000 trucks cross the privately-owned Ambassador Bridge each day, reportedly earning Moroun an estimated $80 million in tolls ever year.
It is the busiest crossing in North America, with $120 billion worth of trade -- almost one-fifth of annual commerce between Canada and the United States -- driving over the Detroit River.
Lebel said Ottawa would "continue to work with the Obama administration" and others in Ontario province and Michigan to obtain the necessary US presidential permit to allow the bridge to proceed.
Ottawa has already agreed to pay Michigan's share of the $3.5 billion to $4 billion construction costs.
The span would be jointly owned by Canada and the United States, but Ottawa plans to collect a toll on the Canadian side to recoup its expenses.
The project also includes Canadian and US inspection plazas, an interchange with US Interstate-75, and the Windsor-Essex Parkway connecting Canada's Highway 401 to the bridge.
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