Bridge operators promise to meet judge's deadline

WARREN (AP) -- Operators of the Ambassador Bridge expect to meet a judge's deadline and finish work on a project linking the international commuter crossing with two Detroit expressways. Ramp and connection work will be completed by January and toll booths will be relocated, the Warren, Mich.-based Detroit International Bridge Co. said Tuesday in a release. The Bridge Co. has been fighting Michigan Department of Transportation officials in Wayne County Circuit Court over work on the $230 million Gateway Project in Southwest Detroit. A hearing is scheduled for July 7 before Judge Prentis Edwards, who ordered Bridge Co. President Dan Stamper to appear and face contempt charges. Stamper was briefly jailed earlier this year after Edwards found him in contempt for disobeying an order to rebuild the approaches. Transportation officials have asked Edwards to impose daily fines on the company. "The company disagrees with the Michigan Department of Transportation on some aspects of the design plans, but will work through design and construction issues with the court monitor and MDOT," the company said. Detroit attorney Reginald Turner will "help guide" the company through completion of the project, Stamper said. "If we run into problems, Mr. Turner will meet with the MDOT attorneys, the court monitor, Judge Edwards, or anyone else he deems necessary to keep construction on schedule," Stamper added. The Bridge Co. also will turn over property to the state to allow MDOT officials to move forward with connecting the project to Interstate 96 and Interstate 75. Published: Thu, Jun 23, 2011