The bridge project "would result in the permanent degradation of a sensitive ecosystem and the destruction of threatened species," said Sierra Club Ontario director Dan McDermott.

Specifically, a new highway network to be built on the Canadian side leading to the new Detroit River crossing would put Massassauga Rattlesnakes, Eastern Fox Snakes, Butler's Garter Snakes, Kentucky Coffee-Trees, the Willowleaf Aster and the Dense Blazing Star -- all threatened or endangered -- at risk, he said.

The ecological relic also contains Canada's largest remaining tall grass prairie ecosystem.

The Sierra Club filed an application for judicial review of the Canadian government's issuing of permits for the project, and asked for an injunction to halt construction.

The border crossing currently handles almost 30 percent of all Canada-US trade totaling 130 billion dollars per year, and sees more than 8,000 trucks and 68,000 travellers daily.

Transport Canada said truck traffic along this corridor is expected to triple within 30 years, while vehicle traffic will double. But critics say two-way traffic is declining.

The new bridge would be built about three kilometers (two miles) downstream from the existing Ambassador Bridge and tunnels, and would be owned jointly by Canada and Michigan.

Canada offered in April to pay part of the construction on the US side after cash-strapped Michigan waffled at paying its share of the 5.3 billion dollar project.

Some state officials have also thrown support behind a proposal to instead expand the existing Ambassador Bridge.

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