Michigan House OKs bill that would allow entry in bridge project linking Detroit and Windsor

Michigan House OKs entry in Canada bridge project

LANSING, Mich. — A proposal to build a new bridge connecting Detroit and Windsor, Ontario, passed a key hurdle Wednesday in the Michigan House.

The Democratic-led chamber passed a bill 56-51 that would allow the state to get involved with Canada in a public-private partnership to span the Detroit River in an effort to improve international trade and traffic. But the proposed Detroit River International Crossing faces tougher challenges ahead, starting with getting enough votes to pass the Republican-led Michigan Senate.

No Republicans supported the bill in the House. The new bridge also is opposed by the private owners of the nearby Ambassador Bridge, who want to expand their own span connecting Ontario and Michigan.

Lawmakers who support the new $5 billion public-private partnership expect changes to the legislation that passed the House in order for it to pass the Senate. But backers are banking on broad support from southeast Michigan business and labor groups to persuade the Senate to pass some version of the legislation.

“I do think they’ll eventually get on board,” Democratic House Speaker Andy Dillon said. “There’s too many people supporting this project.”

Canada has offered up to $550 million to cover project costs on the U.S. side. The Canadian government would get the money back by receiving a larger portion of the collected tolls.

The offer basically means Michigan wouldn’t have to pay anything up front for the bridge project.

But Republicans are nervous about the legislation, saying it would give Canada and the Michigan Department of Transportation too much power without oversight from the state Legislature.

Republicans and a few Democrats also worry state taxpayers will wind up on the hook to bail out the project if its finances crumble or if toll revenues are less than expected.

“They do what they want, when they want — and we pay the bills for their decisions if it doesn’t work out,” Rep. David Agema, R-Grandville, said of the proposed partnership.

The legislation is coming up now because of the Detroit River project, which could take up to five years to complete. But Republicans say it has far broader implications for the future, potentially allowing a state department to enter into similar transportation projects around the state without much legislative oversight.

Nine Democrats joined Republicans in opposing the bill. Democrats voting “no” were Timothy Bledsoe of Grosse Pointe, Terry Brown of Pigeon, George Cushingberry of Detroit, Robert Dean of Grand Rapids, Fred Durhal of Detroit, LaMar Lemmons of Detroit, Lesia Liss of Warren, Jeff Mayes of Bay City and Andy Neumann of Alpena.

Republican Tim Moore of Farwell didn’t vote.

The main bill allowing the state to proceed with the Detroit River project is House Bill 4961.