Ambassador Bridge company hasn't completed repair order issued by Transport Canada
Transport Canada issued order for railing, curb and sidewalk repairs in June
The company that owns the Ambassador Bridge confirmed to CBC News it hasn't completed a repair order issued by Transport Canada in June.
Transport Canada documents show the Detroit International Bridge Company was ordered to fix the bridge's railings, concrete curb and sidewalk, but those repairs have yet to be done.
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CBC News crossed the bridge Oct. 21. It had rusty railings and broken concrete on both the American and Canadian sides of the bridge.
Transport Canada is responsible for inspecting the Canadian side, while inspections on the U.S. side are completed by the bridge company.
The bridge is 86 years old and Faouzi Ghrib, an engineer at the University of Windsor said some of the issues may be aesthetic but the bridge has passed the typical lifespan for a similar structure.
"Normally when we design a structure of this kind, we use 50 years as a life span," Ghrib said. "So after 50 years, we may expect a few degradations into many aspects of the structure."
He's never formally assessed the bridge or inspected the bridge professionally, but commented on what he's seen, both by driving across it and walking under it.
Though there have been reports of large pieces of debris falling from the bridge, Ghrib said the structure appears sound. He said the falling debris was likely caused by corroded concrete.
"There are many aspects from a structural point of view, I don't think the public is in danger," he said. "The bridge, I don't expect will fall apart suddenly. It was taken care of in the original design."
Stan Korosec, a spokesman for the bridge company, said it's in the process of securing contractors to repair the railings.
The curbs and sidewalks will take longer because the company needs to shut down the bridge and divert traffic, which require special permits, Korosec said.