[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 144 (Thursday, November 3, 2005)]
[Senate]
[Pages S12351-S12352]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  PAYING TRIBUTE TO THE DETROIT WINDSOR TUNNEL ON ITS 75TH ANNIVERSARY

 Ms. STABENOW. Mr. President, I rise today to recognize the 
75th anniversary of the Detroit Windsor Tunnel. Over the past 75 years, 
the tunnel has been an indispensable link between the United States and 
Canada.
  In the years before the construction of the tunnel, cars and trucks 
crossed the Detroit River on ferries. During the winter, the river 
froze and made the ferry ride between Detroit and Windsor dangerous. On 
November 3, 1930, President Herbert Hoover ushered in a new era in 
U.S.-Canadian relations when he officially opened the Detroit Windsor 
Tunnel.
  Not only has the tunnel been a vital commercial and cultural link 
between the United States and Canada, at the time of its construction 
it was an unparalleled engineering feat. The tunnel is approximately 1 
mile long and reaches depths of 75 feet below the river. It is the only 
underwater international vehicular border crossing in the world. At 
full capacity, 2,400 vehicles can pass between Detroit and Windsor each 
hour through the tunnel.
  During the tunnel's construction, there were as many as 600 workers 
simultaneously building the structure. One group of workers called the 
``muckers'' dug a 32-foot hole in tight quarters through sand and clay 
deep below the Detroit River. As a tribute to the workers who built the 
Detroit Windsor Tunnel a year ahead of schedule, the first person to 
drive the distance of the tunnel and back was Joseph Zuccatto, a 
construction worker who earned 35 cents an hour.
  The Detroit Windsor Tunnel is one of the cornerstones of the close 
economic relationship between the United States

[[Page S12352]]

and Canada. The United States and Canada trade $1.2 billion worth of 
goods and services each day that supports 5.2 million jobs. Trade 
between the United States and Canada is valued over $400 billion per 
year. Michigan's trade with Canada represents 19 percent of the United 
States land-based trade and supports 174,000 Michigan jobs.
  The Detroit Windsor Tunnel is a crucial link between the U.S. and 
Canadian economies. The tunnel is one of the 15 busiest border 
crossings nationally, with more than 9 million vehicles passing through 
the tunnel each year. Additionally, at least 850 trucks and 5,000 
commuters pass through the tunnel for business, entertainment, and 
shopping each day.
  In recent years, all U.S. ports of entry have balanced increased 
border security requirements with the needs of tourists and business 
travelers to quickly enter and leave the United States. The Detroit 
Windsor Tunnel has enthusiastically responded to these challenges and 
worked with local, State and Federal officials to meet these urgent 
needs.
  Mr. President, I commend the Detroit Windsor Tunnel on its 75th 
anniversary, for its service to the people of the United States and 
Canada, and for its continuous innovation to serve those who rely on 
it.

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