The Canadian government has offered to pay up to $550 million of Michigan’s cost to build a proposed new U.S.-Canada bridge downriver from the Ambassador Bridge.
Gov. Jennifer Granholm announced the offer this morning in a surprise appearance before the House transportation committee.
The committee is considering legislation to allow the bridge – called the Detroit River International Crossing – to go forward. The state has battled with Ambassador Bridge owners who oppose the DRIC, fearing it would take traffic and business away from the current bridge.
The Canadian offer is a major development that would virtually eliminate any cost for the state of Michigan to build a new entry plaza for the proposed bridge, and to connect it with I-75.
The Moroun people are already fighting this announcement, and since they have well-funded "sympathizers" in our Legislature...
Michigan lawmakers have until June 1 to enact legislation approving the state's entry into the partnership.
Uh oh.
Any way we can go around them? It would be a shame to lose the tens of thousands of jobs that would be created because certain lawmakers have no intention of letting good things happen for this state.
The DNews has more here, and a press conference will be held later today that will offer more details.