A rail bridge between Detroit and Windsor?

[Throck]

Talked with my uncle from Detroit. Turns out there is an active rail tunnel between Detroit and Windsor. Why didn't they use that to circumvent the trucker blockade for moving auto parts? The auto industry moves just about everything else between plants by rail.

Go figure.

[snowybirdie]

1. There's also a tunnel

I wondered why that wasn't an alternative too.

[demmiblue]

7. It isn't tall enough for semis (and there are a few tightish curves).

[snowybirdie]

9. You're right

I was thinking more of moving cargo to smaller trucks in a pinch. But glad it's over.

[roamer65]

14. Yeah the tunnel is a pretty tight fit and curves around a lot on the ascent/descent.

Plus coming off from the bridge it is a straight shot out to the 401.

[3Hotdogs]

2. I suspect much future product will go by rail.

Its like when manufacturers learned by example that "Just in time..." component ordering doesn't always work out like its supposed to. It saves paying for storage space but where are those chips, now that we need them.

[Throck]

3. Local auto plant

Local body parts auto plant where my daughter went to school. Ford and Chevrolet surrounded by rail yards.

[A HERETIC I AM]

5. I think you might be surprised how much is moved by truck...

Between plants as opposed to the railroad.

Most of the plants I hauled cars out of got pretty much all of their parts by truck.

The rail sidings are for loading finished cars

[Abnredleg]

6. Railroads are running at capacity

Plus it takes a lot of work and time to change supply chain logistics.

And you can block train tracks just as easy as a highway.

[mn9driver]

8. The rail tunnel has always been a bottleneck.

It can’t handle the amount of traffic that the bridge can. They are building another bridge that is supposed to open in 2024 because even without the trucker blockade it often takes hours for trucks to cross on the Ambassador Bridge, due just to the crazy volume of traffic that is constantly crossing the border there.

If I wanted to drive to Windsor, I would take the car tunnel—no truck traffic through there.

[WhiskeyGrinder]

10. The way global logistics are run, it took less time to wait out the disruption than it would have to

change trucking routes to rail.

[Srkdqltr]

12. They could have used helicopters and brought goods over.

Maybe a ferry across the river?

[Throck]

13. Is the river frozen?

[Srkdqltr]

21. An episode of Ice Road Truckers. Ya that would work. HEAVY SARCASM

[JustABozoOnThisBus]

22. It would be safer to drive the trucks across Lake St Clair, ...

... or Lake Erie. The moving water in the river makes it slower to freeze, faster to thaw. Plus, there are those pesky icebreakers keeping the shipping channels open, they might interfere with the truck traffic.

It was rumored that smugglers drove trucks of whiskey across the river during prohibition. I don't know how many Model-A trucks may still lie on the river's bed with some aged booze on board.

[MineralMan]

15. Not really. Really.

They couldn't.

A typical 53-foot semi-trailer can haul over 20 tons of stuff inside. There is only one helicopter that can haul that much. That is the Russian Mi-26 military helicopter, which can lift a maximum of 44,000 pounds. I don't think there are any of those in Canada, though. There are semis with 53-foot trailers all over the place, including traveling down your nearest freeway.

Practically, what you suggest is impossible.

[Srkdqltr]

16. I was being sarcastic. The bridge is it for all practical purposes.

Maybe thought should be given to another way but any way can be blocked by determined folks.

[MineralMan]

18. Your sarcasm wasn't clear.

It's amazing what people actually think about things like that. So, I clarified with some actual information.

[Srkdqltr]

19. Sorry. I should have been more clear. Your answer was excellent.

[MineralMan]

20. No problem.

I just like filling in the details.

[roamer65]

17. PM Trudeau solved the problem.

Invoking the Emergencies Act.

Now they can clear out the insurrectionists fast and get things flowing quickly.