But at least one multi-millionaire has come out against bridge improvement.
The man is Manuel “Matty” Moroun. He owns the Ambassador Bridge, which connects Detroit and Windsor, Ontario and is the busiest commercial crossing in the United States. Ambassador handles more than 7,100 trucks a day at an average price of $15 per truck. The only privately owned border crossing in the United States, it collects more than $60 million in tolls each year.
Moroun and his related companies have reportedly spent more than $30 million to oppose a new government-funded bridge that would compete with the Ambassador. The new bridge, called the NITC (New International Trade Crossing), would be two miles from Ambassador and be funded by Canada and paid off with toll collections.
Maroun says the new bridge is unnecessary, is a waste of taxpayer money, and will be far more expensive than projected. He said he could add to his own bridge far more cheaply. He has spent his millions on a massive ad and telephone campaign to back Proposal 6, which would require statewide votes on tunnels and bridges to Canada.