Cross-border commuters and sports fans can start breathing easier now.
The company that operates the Windsor-Detroit Tunnel announced Thursday afternoon that the bulk of its restoration project is complete, and the nightly tunnel closures that commuters have been dealing with for over a year will, for the most part, no longer be necessary.
The tunnel company says the project, which involved replacing the ceiling on the 88-year-old structure, is "substantially completed" and regular commutes will resume on Sunday night. Cost for the project is now at over $21 million.
"We know that thousands of people rely on the tunnel every day, and we would like to thank them for their patience and understanding during this important renovation work,” said Neal Belitsky, president of the Detroit-Windsor Tunnel, in a media release. “This work was important to ensure that the tunnel will continue to be the premier gateway between Windsor and Detroit for years to come.”
However, Belitsky said some ancillary work would continue on the tunnel will require some periodic closures over the next few months.
The tunnel roof restoration began in October 2017 and was supposed to have been completed in fall 2018. But Carolyn Brown, the tunnel CEO for the Canadian side, told BlackburnNewsWindsor.com last month that an additional issue was found that needed attention right away.
"There are two bent slab sections at either end of the tunnel," said Brown at the time. "When we chipped away at the concrete we discovered that the 'I' beams that supported the ceiling in those particular areas actually needed to be replaced."
The tunnel will be fully open from Sunday night through Saturday, March 2, according to the tunnel company.
