DETROIT – Transport Canada didn't ask. It told Matty Moroun he needs to bring in barriers to keep cars and trucks from falling off the Ambassador Bridge.
That emergency directive came over the weekend.
It's no secret there is no love lost between Canadian government and Moroun.
Video from underneath the bridge shows a tractor-trailer through several holes in the Ambassador Bridge deck. At night, it's hard to really see.
The same shot in the daylight shows blue sky through the holes.
While driving on the bridge deck, drivers looking the other way can see holes in what would be a sidewalk if anyone were allowed to walk on it. Worse than the holes are the rusting side rails.
The Canadian government ordered cement barriers between traffic and the walkways, and metal side rails on the Canadian side. But they fear neither would be able to stop a vehicle from careening into the Detroit River or onto the Canadian side if a vehicle lost control.
Trucker Ron Moore couldn't believe his eyes when he saw the video.
"I was amazed. Like, I know it was under construction, having some trouble with it, but to see the size of the holes in that bridge and how many holes there were -- it's really shocking and disturbing, to be honest with you," Moore said. "You've got to protect the public."
Windsor area resident Tom Trupp races motorcycles in Milan and plans to use the bridge next weekend because he can't bring his bike trailer through the tunnel.
"(I'll be) very careful. Very very careful," Trupp said after seeing the video. "Watch where I'm going. Watch where I'm going. You have to. I never ever dreamt it could be that bad."
Here is what the bridge company had to say about Transport Canada's demands:
"While we wait for the "Green light" from Transport Canada to begin construction of the new Ambassador second span, we continue repairs and maintenance work on the existing bridge. The referenced repairs are underway and were started last year. We are cooperating fully on both matters with Transport Canada."