Grand River: Headlands truck ferry debate

GRAND RIVER -- It's a popular spot for swimmers boaters, anglers and bird watchers, but a plan is in the works, that could turn it into a "popular truck stop."

Northeast Ohio politicans and developers want to park a "truck ferry" next to Mentor Headland's Beach.

Historically there have been a number of ideas floating on Lake Erie to better connect Canada and Ohio commerce.

This one is getting a push from Senator George Voinovich, Congressman Steve Lauterette and a host of other heavyweight Northeast Ohio Politicians.

The opposition may be the tiniest of creatures, but expect them to put up a fight.

Blackbrook Audubon Society members Sue Kaufman and Anders Fjeldstad are frequent bird watchers in the nature preserve at Headlands Beach.

"You can stand in the spring on the state nature preserve and watch the warblers fly right by," Fjeldstad said.

The protected land is a flyway for migrating birds some of them endangered species.

"A lot of them are going up to the Arctic to breed. It's a very dangerous time for them without this property here it can impact them a whole lot," Kaufman said.

The property abuts prime real estate now being considered the site for a massive dock. The US end of a truck ferry between Ontario and Ohio.

Grand River Mayor Chris Conley is leading the truck ferry charge.

"Companies that are here and teetering wouldn't be. I believe companies considering leaving Ohio would stay for the truck ferry. I believe it would bring other companies in here," Mayor Conley said.

The plan calls for ferry boats transporting 24 hundred to three thousand semi-tractor trailers 24 hours a day and seven days a week.

The Cuyahoga County Port Authority spent one million dollars to investigate a similar plan. Spokesman Luke Frazier says it was incompatible with downtown expansion. In short, too many truck traffic negatives.

So if hundreds of trucks in a centralized location is incompatible with downtown Cleveland how can it possibly be compatible with a nature preserve.

Mayor Conley says an environmental study is in also in the plan, and consider this.

"The trucks are now tearing up the roads. They're polluting all the way from 44 to Buffalo and back that's just our side of the lake," Conley said.

Conley says the truck ferry has been bantered about state and county government for six years.

Anders and Susan are seeing the specifics for the first time.

It promises to be an eye opener for those on both sides of the debate.