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A Michigan appeals court has refused to hear a plea from the owner of the Ambassador Bridge on a lower court ruling that he illegally built toll booths and other facilities on public land on the Detroit side of the span that carriers traffic to Windsor, Ontario.
“I don’t know what our plans are next,” said Phil Frame, spokesman for Manuel “Matty” Moroun who owns the bridge company.
The March 17 rejection by the appeals court is a second recent blow for Moroun. Citing the land dispute, the U.S. Coast Guard earlier terminated his application to build a second Ambassador span alongside the existing one.
The court case grew out of a project called Gateway under which Moroun was to upgrade the approach area to the Ambassador with new traffic ramps, toll booths, a truck plaza, and a duty free store.
Last year, the city and state filed suit claiming that Moroun illegally appropriated land and road access for the facilities. In February in state court a judge sided with the city and state and said Moroun would have to tear down what he has built so far.
Meanwhile, Canada and the United States are proceeding with plans to build a publicly owned bridge across the Detroit River.
By Michele Fuetsch
Staff Reporter
