Judge orders bridge owners to pay state $4.5M

DETROIT (AP) -- A judge in Detroit has ordered the owners of the Ambassador Bridge to reimburse the state Department of Transportation $4.5 million for work done on a freeway-to-bridge project. The Detroit Free Press reports Monday that Wayne County Circuit Court Judge Prentis Edwards made the order last week. Edwards told bridge owner Manuel (Matty) Moroun in 2010 to rebuild a ramp. Moroun was jailed earlier this year when the work was not done. Edwards later ordered Transportation officials to take over the Detroit International Bridge Co.'s portion of the project. The $230 million Gateway project was built to relieve traffic congestion on streets and freeways leading to and from the bridge that connects Detroit to Canada. The Associated Press left a recent message seeking comment from the Bridge Co. Published: Wed, Dec 19, 2012