Deal for new Detroit-Windsor bridge to be announced this week
Gov. Rick Snyder, along with U.S. and Canadian officials, will unveil a deal to build a new bridge between Detroit and Windsor over the Detroit River, several media outlets report.
Rick Snyder
AP photo
The Globe and Mail in Toronto also reported an announcement of the deal was expected Friday, and The Detroit News also reported a deal was in the works.
The bridge is expected to be built with private money. Tolls would finance the construction cost. Snyder is pursuing the bridge project without seeking legislative approval.
Manuel (Matty) Maroun, whose company owns the Ambassador Bridge, has strongly criticized Snyder’s effort to build a new public crossing. The company has mounted an effort to get a measure requiring public approval of a new bridge on the November ballot.
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Comments
Ron Granger
Thu, Jun 14, 2012 : 1:15 p.m.
The state, and the governor, should not be involved in this. And yet, Snyder seems to insist that taxpayers should be in the international bridge business.
Jimmy McNulty
Thu, Jun 14, 2012 : 12:42 p.m.
To paraphrase another commenter from months ago, If Matty Maroun is against this, somehow I am for it.
clownfish
Thu, Jun 14, 2012 : 12:20 p.m.
Who is supplying the money? Who will get to keep the revenues? The previous proposal, to have the Canadians lend us the money, we pay them back then keep all revenue that is left was a good idea. After all, "government should run like a business", right?
1bit
Thu, Jun 14, 2012 : 2:09 a.m.
And we will see exactly who Maroun has bought off in the State Legislature in the coming days. Agema is one. Richardville may be another.
JBurdock
Thu, Jun 14, 2012 : 3:22 a.m.
Reporting on the votes of these NAMED Legislators will stop this coruption, Thanks.
aareader
Thu, Jun 14, 2012 : 2:02 a.m.
Wake up Michigan voters. One way or the other the Republican agenda to roll back citizens' Constitutional rights is working. The bridge is not the issue--its how things are being circumvented to get things done.
Jay Thomas
Thu, Jun 14, 2012 : 12:38 a.m.
1. A bridge just like the Ambassador fell down spontaneously a few years back. That's how old it is getting. 2. If that should happen the economic damage to the region would be substantial. Lots of auto industry jobs on the line with all the cross border traffic -- and no redundancy. 3. The Canadians are NEVER going to allow Moroun to build his second span. They have said so. He started doing that without getting government approval from either country and the Coast Guard had to stop him. He even "liberated" land owned by the city of Detroit to do it (and put up fencing around that public property to keep the public out!).
tim
Wed, Jun 13, 2012 : 11:30 p.m.
About time-- Not that I'm a huge Snyder fan, but there's at least one Republican in state government that couldn't be bought off.
B2Pilot
Wed, Jun 13, 2012 : 8:11 p.m.
This is HUGE for Detroit and the State! this will drastically improve the exporting and importing of goods for the state. Maroun has been buying politicians to keep his monoply and stands to lose Billions. Best of all it won't cost Michigan a dime!! Keep up the good work Governor Snyder. Detroit needs this and Michigan needs this.
81wolverine
Wed, Jun 13, 2012 : 7:16 p.m.
I don't blame Snyder at all for circumventing the State Legislature to get this new bridge project going. The Michigan Legislature can't pass anything significant any more. All they do is argue, disagree, and reach stalemates on just about everything - except maybe pay raises for themselves.
scott williams
Wed, Jun 13, 2012 : 4:26 p.m.
Basic Bob - What is "substandard service"? Did you fall in the river, did you have to fly part of the way? seems to me a bridge gets kind of a Pass/Fail type of grade. you either make it across or you don't.
Basic Bob
Thu, Jun 14, 2012 : 12:59 a.m.
It's not just a bridge, it's an international crossing. Sure it's a pain to have to go through immigration or customs, which you have to at any border crossing. What makes it worse is the shabby duty free store, interminable lane closures, unpleasant toll collectors, higher tolls, long waits, and horrible approaches in both cities. Most of all, there's just too many trucks for the plazas at either end.
Basic Bob
Wed, Jun 13, 2012 : 3:42 p.m.
I try to avoid the Ambassador bridge already, using the tunnel or Blue Water bridge. If anything, this gives me another altenative. Trucks have fewer choices and for this traffic alone we need an additional bridge. Mr. Maroun's bridge has provided substandard service for far too long.
Superior Twp voter
Wed, Jun 13, 2012 : 3:28 p.m.
DO it! Manny Maroun wants so badly to retain his "bridge monopoly." Do it and make him squeal!