...with this quick summation of the problem:
"There seems to be no GOOD reason other than the lines of waiting vehicles, a problem that can be solved by allowing the current owner of the international bridge to complete his second span."
Your right...there isn't!
The governor doesn't drive over the border.
Most of the Michigan Legislature doesn't drive over the border.
Neither does Akerson, Coleman, et al (I'll go out on a limb here and say even somewhat regularly).
Between the Blue Water and Ambassador Bridges (I prefer the former), THE main problem you have with crossing over the border is because of delays with customs.
This reminds me of an analogy someone gave me over the radio a few months back.
Government: The thing that breaks both of your legs, and then tries to make things better by offering to sell you a pair of crutches to help you get around.
There once was a time when going over the border can be summarized by the following exchange:
Customs: Citizenship?
Me: US
Customs: Purpose for your visit.
Me: Delivering automotive parts to/from Canada
Customs: Thank you, drive safely.
Those days are long gone. Now I need to have a clipboard full of documentation for myself, my cargo, my truck (I still won't get FASTPASS) and a laundry list of completed forms and paperwork that I never needed before. And I'm not even going to go into the false alarms from the sensors and scans I've dealt with.
You want to improve border crossing times?
Deal with the real problem: Customs.