New Windsor-Detroit boarder crossing tunnel Jan 2010
Paula Wallis, TunnelTalk
A new freight rail tunnel across the boarder between the United States and Canada takes a step forward, with the owners of the Windsor-Detroit rail tunnel initiating an environmental assessment for a second tunnel. According to a published report The Detroit River Tunnel Partnership (DRTP) has issued a call for companies to pre-qualify to conduct an environmental assessment on plans to build a larger tunnel next to the existing one that would be capable of handling the newer double-stacked railway cars.
The estimated $400 million tunnel is also key to a major plan by the city of Windsor, Ontario to merger several of the existing railway lines into one major doubled-tracked line linking to Detroit. A Windsor City Councilman, and strong supporter of the tunnel, said the notice indicates the rail companies "have their financial requirements in a row and are looking to proceed.”
The project also has strong support in Detroit. The Detroit Chamber Of Commerce says the project would create 1,700 construction jobs over the course of the four year construction phase, and would attract new business to Detroit and the region.
THE DPTP is a partnership between the Canadian Pacific Railway (CPR) and Borealis Infrastructure Trust, a part of the Ontario Municipal Employee Retirement System (OMERS).
According to the DRTP about 25 trains per day would move between Toronto and Chicago via the tunnel in Detroit. However, the 100 year-old immersed twin-tube tunnel cannot accommodate the next-generation rail cars that are taller and wider than the cross sections of the existing tunnels.
Thank you for taking the time to share your thoughts and comments. You share in the wider tunnelling community, so please keep your comments smart and civil. Don't attack other readers personally, and keep your language professional.
Your feedback has been submitted successfully and is currently under review.
