BLOGExtra: 2008 Ambassador Bridge Inspection Report Released

Just released from the Ambassador Bridge Company:

• "Media friends and bridge inspection mavens:
  
  Many of you covered the flap a couple of weeks ago over the release of the 2007 inspection report for the Ambassador Bridge.
  
  I hope we were clear that The Detroit International Bridge Co. was not so concerned about anything the report said about the bridge’s condition itself as we were about trying to uphold a written confidentiality agreement with the government.
  
  Nevertheless, in the interest of openness, we are making available to you the 2008 inspection report. It will be available shortly, hopefully within the next 15 minutes, at www.ambassadorbridge.com/2008inspection.
  
  There is no mystery to the release time; we just received an electronic copy of the report at 11 a.m. today and it’s taken a little time to put together the Web page.
  
  Some of you have seen the 2008 report already. Those of you who saw the 2007 report provided through Congressman Dingell’s office will not see anything strikingly different in the 2008 report. Everything identified for maintenance or repair in both the 2007 and 2008 reports has been addressed in some way. Some items have been fixed, others are ongoing because some projects take longer to complete and some items such as the bridge deck replacement are being engineered. Some items are handled in-house and others by contractors.
  
  The 2008 inspection report actually was made public in July when we shared it and discussed it in detail in meetings with regulators from the Michigan Department of Transportation, Federal Highway Administration and Transport Canada. That is how we are supposed to be open to the public – by sharing this information with the professional regulators who are responsible for representing the public in such technical matters. Those regulators all say our inspections are extremely thorough and they all agree the Ambassador Bridge is safe for the public.
  
  The 2009 inspection is under way. That report will not be published until mid-2010. We understand if you don’t want to do a story about the 2008 report so soon after such thorough coverage of the 2007 inspection, especially if the findings are the same. But feel free to contact me if you have any questions. Meanwhile, I wonder whether you could get the same inspection detail about the Blue Water Bridge, International Bridge or the Mackinac Bridge.
  
  Sincerely,
  
  Phil Frame
  Director of Communications
  Detroit International Bridge Co.

Great minds must think alike. Here is what I wrote to the Mayor/Head of the Windsor Tunnel Commission and Mark Galvin. I also asked the same of Transport Canada

• "From: Ed Arditti
  To: Mark Galvin
  Cc: Mayor Francis
  Sent: Wednesday, November 04, 2009 9:52 AM
  Subject: Detroit/Windsor Tunnel safety report
  
  I assume that the Tunnel has inspections undertaken periodically about its condition, especially its safety since it is used by the public.
  
  Would you please provide me with a copy of the last inspection report undertaken. After all, thousands of individuals and truckers use the Tunnel every day and I believe they are entitled to know the state of the Tunnel before doing so especially since it is owned ultimately by the City.
  
  If possible, please send it in electronic form so that I may distribute it in the public interest on my BLOG.