Reopening unknown for section of Huron Church Road shut to prevent Ambassador Bridge protests
The protests against pandemic mandates prevented bridge traffic last week before police moved in
Police in Windsor, Ont., are reminding the public that a section of Huron Church Road, a key road to get to the Ambassador Bridge, is still being blocked off for fear more protesters might arrive, and a full reopening time is unknown.
Protests around the bridge shut down the key Windsor-Michigan crossing all last week until auto-parts organizations, backed by the City of Windsor, obtained an injunction that allowed police to clear the protesters and vehicles to get traffic going again. The bridge officially reopened Monday.
On Tuesday morning, a police tweet said: "Northbound lanes between the expressway and the bridge entrance are "for U.S. bound Ambassador Bridge Traffic ONLY at this time."
East and westbound roads that intersect with Huron Church Road have been blocked by police.
Currently, the only way for people to cross is north of the border crossing — on Wyandotte Street West or University Avenue.
Pedestrians who need to cross Huron Church Road area are asked to use the overpass near Assumption College Catholic High School, or the intersection of Tecumseh Road.
The City of Windsor declared a state of emergency Monday, in part to help deal with the security operations along Huron Church Road, as protests against pandemic mandates heightened.
Jason Bellaire, deputy chief of operations for the Windsor Police Service, said it would be difficult to provide a timeline for reopening.
"On one side we have a repeated incident on the bridge and on the other side we have free movement and somewhere within that spectrum we have to find that goldilocks zone to make sure we incrementally get where we need to go based on the intelligence that we're getting ... and based on our obligation that we keep that part open," he said to Windsor city council during a policing update Monday.
The current traffic plan in the area of Huron Church Road was developed in conjunction with <a href="https://twitter.com/EssexWindsorEMS?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@EssexWindsorEMS</a> and <a href="https://twitter.com/WindsorFire1?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@WindsorFire1</a> to ensure public safety. Closed roads in the area have and will remain accessible ONLY to emergency services.
—@WindsorPolice"One of the big considerations is that the people who want to come down and do those illegal demonstrations could probably choose not to and that would change what we are doing."
Windsor police said Tuesday the plan for Huron Church Road was developed in conjunction with Windsor Fire and Rescue Services, and Essex-Windsor EMS, to ensure public safety. Closed roads in the area are available for use by emergency vehicles as needed, police stated in a tweet.
Business along the route remain open, but concrete barriers have been placed along Huron Church Road to prevent vehicles from turning from the road into any parking lots located alongside it.
Businesses, residents 'held hostage'
For those who live and work around Huron Church Road, some are feeling stuck and unable to access the things they need.
Phil Jacobs, owner of Jake's Roadhouse and Blues Joint, said customers can't access his bar at the moment.
"They've got the east-west accesses blocked, they have my main entrance blocked by a Kingsville Maintenance pickup truck," Jacobs said. "I called the Windsor Police Service twice, and they told me it would be moved."
"Then I found out it can't be moved for six, seven days because of this [state of emergency] that Mayor Dilkens has invoked."
Jacobs said he had to cancel a planned Super Bowl event on Sunday.
'Major problems'
Meanwhile, the bar's back entrance isn't accessible either because of traffic control that's in place.
"Major, major problems," he said Tuesday. "I usually have 15, 20 people in there. There's five people in the bar, including staff."
Jacobs said he understands the need to limit some traffic to stop any potential blockades.
But, he said, "they're coming right down the 401. If they want to have a blockade, they can have it anywhere."
Jacobs said he'd like to see police and the city improve access to businesses along Huron Church Road.
Fred Bouzid, owner of Fred's Farm Fresh International Market on Huron Church Road, said his store is still accessible.
"I'm lucky that we have the rear entrance," Bouzid told CBC News, adding that customers are reluctant to come to the area regardless.
Bouzid said, for example, Valentine's Day is normally very busy at the story thanks to flower sales. However, they've got about $7,000 of unsold flowers left over.
"I understand why they did this," he said. "They don't want groups meeting here on my parking lot, and then going to block the bridge."
"They've got at least ... 50 police cars up and down Huron Church Road," Bouzid said. "Anybody can come off the 401, go down to the bridge, and block it."
"What they should have is police cars down by the bridge and ... two tow trucks, and as soon as somebody stops, arrest them and told their car, that'll solve the problem."
Joe Dupuis, a resident of Windsor's west end, said the traffic control on Huron Church Road is making moving around the city difficult.
"Us guys on this end of town, literally west of Huron Church, we're still held hostage, and the sad thing is it'd be nice if they opened up one road," Dupuis said. "Tecumseh Road, Totten, one of the further roads down, just so us guys on the west side of town can move about our business."
"If the blockade is done, open some roads please, I beg ya — cops are doing a great job, but please."
Truck driver Rajesh Devgan was trying to deliver auto parts across the border from Tecumseh on Monday, but said his usual route has been blocked.
He said he ended up in Sandwich Town and had to ask for directions.
"I was coming from the other side, but most of the exits are closed," he said. "At least the police should guide us from where to go and mark some detours and all."
Speaking on CBC's News Network on Monday, Mayor Drew Dilkens said he understands the effect this closure is having on residents.
"For those folks who live in the City of Windsor, this is not a pleasant experience right now," he said, adding the "pipeline" to the Ambassador Bridge must be protected.
Bellaire said police are committed to reopening the area for traffic in all directions, but need to protect "the integrity of our border points."
"We are looking and listening to see if people are going to be trying to repeat this behaviour or something similar," he said.
Critical infrastructure plan needed
Windsor Coun. Rino Bortolin told CBC News that he expects a review of how Windsor police responded to the Ambassador Bridge blockade will take place, which is a normal process for any such large event.
"The outcome from a protest perspective actually was great," he said. "The challenge here is that our municipal road happened to be in the way of a national infrastructure piece, and that's the conundrum."
"Our municipal police force is not equipped to deal with a large-scale protest, a large-scale occupation," Bortolin said. "We have a municipal force that services and keeps the residents of Windsor safe. They did a great job."
Bortolin said an agreement between Windsor, the province, and the federal government is needed that will guide how blockades of critical infrastructure — such as the Ambassador Bridge — are handled in the future.
"How do we want to police it?" he said. "How do we want to ensure there's a clear flow, and how do those things affect the residents of Windsor? We have to have that conversation."
With files from Jacob Barker
