The Ontario Trucking Association (OTA) is raising concerns about a proposal by Windsor Mayor Drew Dilkens to impose temporary tolls on trucks using Huron Church Road to access the Ambassador Bridge.
“I announced that the City of Windsor is requesting approval from the Provincial Government to implement a temporary toll on truck traffic using Huron Church Road to and from the Ambassador Bridge. For decades, Windsor taxpayers have carried the cost of maintaining Huron Church Road, a municipal road that handles significant cross-border truck traffic and requires constant repair. If approved by the Province, the temporary toll could begin May 1, 2026, and remain in place until the Gordie Howe International Bridge opens,” Dilkens said in a Facebook post.
OTA says the proposal would add unnecessary delays and costs along one of the busiest trade corridors between Canada and the United States.
“The proposal does not make sense from a practical perspective by adding additional stops on an already congested stretch of road,” said Lak Shoan, OTA’s director of policy and industry awareness programs. “There could be ramifications to local businesses, the regional economy, and goods movement through a critical trade corridor.”
Huron Church Road serves as the primary commercial route linking Windsor to the Ambassador Bridge, which handles thousands of truck crossings each day between Windsor and Detroit.
OTA said imposing tolls on a route with no viable alternative would effectively penalize trucking companies and businesses that depend on efficient cross-border freight movement.
“With the Gordie Howe Bridge set to open soon, any proposal to toll trucks utilizing Huron Church Road is illogical, as there is no alternative access point to the Ambassador Bridge,” Shoan said. “Thousands of trucks cross this vital trade corridor every day, supporting the Windsor-Detroit economy.”
The association also warned the toll plan could increase congestion, create safety risks for motorists and local residents, and divert truck traffic to other border crossings such as the Blue Water Bridge in Sarnia.
OTA is urging the City of Windsor to reconsider the proposal and work with government and industry stakeholders to identify solutions that support trade flows through the Windsor-Detroit gateway without adding costs to the trucking sector.
This story was updated to include Windsor Mayor Drew Dilkens’ statement.
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