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Canadian Pacific Railway and Borealis Transportation Infrastructure Trust (BTIT) are studying the potential of converting an existing rail tunnel under the Detroit River into a dedicated truck and rail corridor between Windsor, Ontario, and Detroit.


The two companies comprise Detroit River Tunnel Partnership (DRTP), which owns the rail tunnel and corridor between Highway 401 in Ontario and Interstate 75 in Michigan.


DRTP July 11 proposed to study converting the tunnel's two rail tubes into a state-of-the-art truck route, which would maximize infrastructure that currently supports about 400,000 rail cars annually. The partnership also would examine building a rail tunnel in the same corridor designed to accommodate all car types and be open to all rail users.


Together, the truck and rail tunnels would form a secure zone designed to provide a more efficient and cost-effective freight-traffic route, and help meet increasing demand for access to U.S.-Canada border crossings in the Windsor-to-Detroit corridor (through which a quarter of all U.S.-Canada trade passes).


"With the necessary approvals and support, and the use of existing
infrastructure, a new, free-flowing Windsor-Detroit border crossing could be a reality in five years," said DRTP General Manager Michael Sheahan in a prepared statement.


As studies proceed, DRTP plans to promote the project's economic, social and environmental benefits to local, state, provincial and federal governments.