Protesters block Ambassador Bridge traffic for 3rd day
CBC
The latest developments:
For the third day in a row, little traffic is getting through to the Ambassador Bridge, linking Windsor, Ont. and Detroit, because of ongoing protests against pandemic restrictions.
On Wednesday morning, a few dozen vehicles lined Huron Church Road, which is the main artery feeding traffic to the international crossing.
Windsor police have maintained one side-street entrance, allowing the trickle of some traffic onto the bridge from Wyandotte Street. Traffic is completely blocked for those exiting the bridge and entering Canada from Michigan.
While the public would like to see police "do more," Jason Bellaire, deputy chief of operations for the Windsor police, say officers are focused on keeping the safety of everyone involved.
"The dialogue between the officers and the protesters on the scene has been for the most part cordial," Bellaire told CBC News Wednesday.
"The difficulty is in a democratic society people have the right to protest and we respect that public protest."
Police are asking organizers and protesters to "maintain an open communication" with officers, who are working to negotiate with those demonstrating.
Police have asked for 100 additional officers which Bellaire explained will help relieve those officers working. Police have also asked for vehicles and and intelligence support that Bellaire said could help police identify individuals who are protesting in Windsor from elsewhere.
"Aggressive police action can lead to violence on both sides," he said. "We need to be careful not to escalate it and it's a diplomacy based strategy."
Ontario Provincial Police and the Canadian Border Services Agency (CBSA) continue to direct cross-border travellers to use the Windsor-Detroit Tunnel, and commercial traffic to the Blue Water Bridge in Sarnia, nearly a two-hour drive away.
There are massive delays at the Blue Water Bridge, as truck traffic is diverted there. The wait time for outbound U.S. commercial traffic is four hours 15 minutes, as of 8 a.m. Wednesday.
On Tuesday, some trucks were backed up at least four kilometres away from the bridge entrance.
Last in line was Canadian truck driver Darek Babich, hauling auto parts to the U.S.
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