Windsor residents “happy” Tecumseh Road is open

West-Windsor residents are celebrating the partial opening of Huron Church Road after nearly a two-week shutdown.

North America’s busiest international border crossing, which carries more than $450 million worth of daily trade, had been blocked by demonstrators and police since Feb. 5.

Donna Upham is one of many Windsor residents who cross Huron Church daily. But when intersections that crossed it were blocked, they had to find a way around it.

“It has made it more difficult because now we have to find another route to go across,” said Upham. “It has caused more traffic flow in front of our house.”

Upham also said that she does not want to shop at the plazas on Huron Church anymore. “I heard that some of the cars were taken when people went shopping.”

After hearing of Tecumseh’s reopening, residents are excited that they no longer need to drive an extra 10 minutes to Riverside Drive to bypass the blockages along Huron Church Road.

In an update posted to the City of Windsor Facebook page, Windsor Mayor Drew Dilkens said that all three levels of government have “never before” declared a state of emergency due to “illegal blockades and protests at international crossings.”

On Feb. 21, Windsor Police announced on Twitter that “Industrial/Northwood @ Huron Church Rd is now open in all directions,” adding a reminder that any traffic heading toward the Ambassador Bridge is for “bridge traffic only.”

Windsor Police Services are currently working toward a full re-opening of all blocked intersections.