Ambassador Bridge reopens to traffic after possible threat

The Ambassador Bridge resumed normal operations Monday afternoon from Canada to the United States after authorities closed it when finding possible explosive materials in a vehicle.

Windsor police said normal operations resumed just before 5 p.m., after reports emerged around seven hours earlier of possible explosives in a vehicle in the Canada Border Services Agency's secondary inspection area near the bridge.

The span is the busiest international crossing in North America, according to the Ambassador Bridge website.

No specific threat was associated with the incident, which is believed to have been an isolated event, authorities said.

Earlier reports of a complete shutdown of the bridge in the morning were incorrect, authorities said. Traffic was rerouted from Huron Church Road to the Wyandotte Street entrance to the bridge. Traffic was not completely closed into the U.S., they said.

An investigation continued into the incident, police said.

At around 11 a.m., officials said the Canada Border Services Agency alerted Windsor police about possible explosives inside a vehicle.

The driver was detained pending an investigation and was in the custody of the Canada Border Services Agency. No one else was believed to be involved in the incident, Windsor police said.

The Michigan Department of Transportation said backups developed on Interstates 75 and 96 during the reroute of traffic.

As of Monday evening, commercial vehicles found no delays in U.S.-bound or Canada-bound directions, according to the Canada Border Services Agency website that tracks wait times. 

The Windsor-Detroit border is only open for trade and to essential travelers through Oct. 21 at least. It carried, prepandemic, more than 40,000 commuters and truck drivers across the border each day. A daily estimated $323 million of trade passes through as well. 

cramirez@detroitnews.com

Twitter: @CharlesERamirez

halbarghouthi@detroitnews.com

Twitter: @HaniBarghouthi