Open Roads Sunken Tubes and Windsor's "Big Stink"

401 Passing Through Toronto. 12 Plus Lanes Open Air. No Tunnels.

For whatever reasons, our higher governments have decided that the time has come for a new, government owned, probably P3 border crossing. For whatever reasons, Windsor's Mayor and Council have determined that the best approach to this new border crossing should be in the form of an underground tunnel. From the onset our municipal leaders have been desperately trying to sell their tunnel package to Windsorites as "GreenLink". So far, millions of dollars have been spent on consultants, lawyers, studies, and advertising in an effort to bend the public into parting with their common sense. None of this has worked. Instead, it would appear that all of the attention heaped onto the GreenLink proposal has caused an even larger public rationalization. All of the wonderous benefits and Godsends that GreenLink is supposed to heap on Windsor have been logically blown off with little effort. The Mayor's tautology harps about armys of future mutant children who were exposed to particulate matter from heavy traffic. One has to wonder whats in store for kids who grew up in South Windsor. Hemmed in by Howard, Dougall, Huron Church, the E.C. Row Expressway and Zalev's scrap yard. As more and more citizens are dragged into the debate they are committing to objectively thinking through all of the spin and to qualifying everything put in front of them. Simple questions: Is GreeLink "greener than the open road DRIC proposal? No. Does it cost the same? It will cost a billion dollars more to build and millions to operate. Will it benefit Windsor in the long run? How could it?

Sit Back and Take a Breather...

For those who have not yet been pulled into the spin cycle the simplest way to get introduced is to take a few steps back, sit down and observe what is already around us. After all, we are only talking about a highway whether it is covered or not. It is a highway just like the 401, I-75, I-696 or whichever. It's purpose will be the same. Much more traffic pours over those roads each and every day than a single border crossing can handle yet somehow we have been living with these givens every day for decades. Could tunneling clean the exhaust from those vehicles? How could it? It will exhaust to the atmosphere no matter what. Thanks goodness for prevailing westerly winds. Lets look at the tunnel which we already have. The Detroit-Windsor Tunnel. It is one mile long (5,160 feet). When has the air in there ever smelled fresh and sweet? Even with massive exhaust fans that change the air out every 90 seconds it still stinks. That tunnel is only one lane in either direction. GreenLink has three lanes running in each direction and three of the tunnels are about as long totaling out at 8,105 feet. By the way...That Detroit-Windsor Tunnel air is exhausted right into downtown Windsor yet we have managed to live with that too. It is not cleaned or filtered in any way. Here are a few more visualizations:

Lodge Freeway. Six Lanes. Late 1950s. Were These vehicles Greener?

Woodward Avenue "Dream Cruise". Six Lanes through urban areas

I-75 at Davidson. Six Lanes Plus Service Roads

I-75 Approaching Detroit. Oh the exhaust!

Detroit-Windsor Tunnel. Loads of fun.

Promises of the GreenLink Future

The initial cost of GreenLink is only a starter cost. It does not take into account the huge amount of energy required to maintain the tunnel. As an example, GreenLink calls for no less than 126 jet fans to exhaust tunnel fumes into open air. To compare, consider that the Detroit-Windsor Tunnel is using 12 high volume fans and the electricity costs to run those is already through the roof. Keep in mind that those costs are paid for with tunnel tolls. GreenLink energy costs will be picked up by tax payers. Water pumps will also be required because the GreenLink runs below the water table. They will cost a pretty penny too.

Tunnel Ventilation: http://www.govengr.com/ArticlesSep06/detroit.pdf

Since we are already overly burdened by simple snow removal are these extra costs necessary? The life expectancy of the tunnels is 50 years so we can count on replacing them again. In today's world we have to barricade a simple bridge on College Avenue because we don't have the funds to fix or replace it. All of these scenarios present a pretty good definition of what "Legacy Costs" truely are.

The Big Blue Icon

While we are taking a moment to look at all of those existing roads that are a part of our every day lives lets not forget to take into account the Ambassador Bridge. If nothing else, it has kept our post card industry thriving since its beginning. In many ways it is what defines both Windsor and Detroit for people around the world. Should we just toss it aside and forget about it? It's owner hasn't. At this very moment earth is getting sheep-footed and hoppers of concrete are pouring into forms for its brand new twin. There will be no taxpayer involvement here because it is a private entity. The same scenario was true when the current bridge was built back in the 1920s. Has that harmed us in any way? No. It hasn't. As for the infrustructure leading to the bridge, it will be expanded to accomadate any extra traffic. Clean and simple. All of this would render Greenlink a pipe dream with only one question remaining: What's the "Big Stink?"