Appeal Will Not Be Heard By Supreme Court Against New U.S.-Canada Bridge
DETROIT (WWJ/AP) -- An appeal to block the building of a new bridge to Canada in Southwest Detroit will not be heard by the U.S. Supreme Court.
Groups in the Del Ray community had claimed the project would create a negative environmental impact in their suit against the Federal Highway Administration.
Attorney Lawrence Garcia represented the Latin Americans for Social and Economic Development and he is disappointed with the outcome.
"I would have liked to have seen that case gone the other way and with this denial it looks like we're going to be out of options -- it may be the end of the road for the case," Garcia said. "It means that there won't be any way to use this proceeding to block the bridge."
Plans for the bridge were always going forward despite the appeals, including a funding agreement between the United States and Canada for the toll plazas.
"There are lots of statements from the government regarding it being an adverse environmental impact directly in Del Ray," Garcia said. "Displacing 800 residents, closing dozens of businesses, churches, parks, etc."
The owners of the Ambassador Bridge, Matty Moroun and his family have spent money and effort in Washington courts to block the building of the new bridge. The owners have said that they will lose as much as two-thirds of their bridge business.
"When folks can't get in or out of their community easily, it's usually not good for the community," Garcia said. "It's not good for real estate, it's not good for the prosperity of the neighborhood. That's what ghettos are usually like."
Earlier talks involved the Canadian Government paying for a $250 million customs plaza for the New International Trade Crossing. Homeland Security now says a "public-private partnership" will pay for the plaza's construction, with reimbursement from tolls.
TM and © Copyright 2015 CBS Radio Inc. and its relevant subsidiaries. CBS RADIO and EYE Logo TM and Copyright 2015 CBS Broadcasting Inc. Used under license. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.
