BY JOHN GALLAGHER

DETROIT FREE PRESS BUSINESS WRITER


Ambassador Bridge representatives raised the possibility today of a toll-rate war breaking out if a proposed rival government-owned bridge is built between Detroit and Windsor.

Van Conway, a financial consultant hired by the Detroit International Bridge Co. to analyze the government bridge project, estimated the New International Trade Crossing bridge would fall $1.5 billion short of covering operating costs and debt service over 20 years without more than doubling of toll rates currently in operation at the Ambassador and Blue Water bridges.

He added that government backers of the NITC bridge “haven’t considered what could happen in the competitive market if the Ambassador Bridge decides, ‘OK, you’re going to take my traffic now, I’m going to lower my toll.’ ”


Continued at: http://www.freep.com/article/20110429/NEWS01/110429035/Officials-scoff-threat-toll-rate-war-2nd-bridge-built?odyssey=tab|topnews|text|FRONTPAGE