By Joel Thurtell
Finally, someone besides JOTR and National Public Radio is worried about billionaire Manuel “Maty” Moroun’s penchant for storing explosives under his Ambassador Bridge connecting the U.S. and Canada by way of Detroit and Windsor.
Last year, NPR reported on the hundreds of thousands of gallons of diesel fuel and gasoline Matty likes to store under the U.S. side of his bridge so he can sell it at his duty-free gas station. So have I — repeatedly.
Problem, of course, is that one well-flicked cigarette butt could take down the bridge.
That doesn’t seem to worry Matty, nor is it an aspect of the story that has interested other local media.
I’m happy to report that U.S. Rep. John Dingell thinks it’s a serious concern.
The Windsor Star reports that Dingell “takes issue with hazardous materials, such as fuel tankers, crossing the Ambassador Bridge or parking underneath to replenish storage tanks for the duty free plaza in Detroit. Hazardous goods such as corrosives, flammable and radioactive materials are not permitted on the bridge and are supposed to either use the Windsor-Detroit truck ferry or cross in Sarnia at the Blue Water Bridge.
In a February letter to the Federal Highway Administration, Dingell demanded to know “what actions has the (Federal Highway Administration) taken to ensure that these restrictions are enforced (and) “if no actions have been taken, please explain why.”
Happy as I am to see that someone of Dingell’s stature has brought up the flammable/explosive materials issue, I now hear through Crain’s that Matty is trying to muzzle Congressman Dingell. Matty’s federal lawsuit is aimed at banning the federal highway administration and Dingell from making the report public.
With its explosive potential, the bridge is a public safety hazard. It needs to be shut down as a public nuisance.
No waiting around.
Shut it down and condemn it.
By the way, here’s my e-mail address: joelthurtell@gmail.com.
If I get a copy of that bridge report, I’ll know what to do with it.
