Lansing ?Gov. Rick Snyder will unveil his long-awaited plan for building a second southeast Michigan span to Canada on Friday.
Lawmakers have been buzzing since word came out this week that a plan could be announced by the week's end. The Republican majority is leery, and the House passed a bill Thursday to prohibit use of state money for Snyder's New International Trade Crossing. It's awaiting consideration in the Senate.
Snyder, who has made building a second publicly owned span a defining mission, will join Lt. Gov. Brian Calley and Canada's Prime Minister Stephen Harper for an announcement at 12:45 p.m. Friday at the Hilton Hotel in Windsor.
Snyder and Harper plan to sign an agreement at 3 p.m. at Cobo Hall. Both events will be live streamed online at www.michigan.gov/snyder.
Just prior to the signing, Calley will join U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood and labor leaders at 2:45 p.m. at Cobo to herald the massive construction project. It is expected to create thousands of jobs and make Detroit a hub of international commerce.
When completed, the new border crossing would make a direct connection between Detroit and Windsor to Interstates 75 and 94 on the U.S. side, and Highway 401 in Ontario.
Canada offered to loan Michigan up to $550 million to pay for the state's portion of the $1.5 billion project, with the money to be repaid through bridge tolls.
Snyder was also able to cut a deal with Washington, D.C., that would allow the $550 million to be used as Michigan's 20 percent share of matching funds for road projects, allowing the state to qualify for its full share of roughly $2 billion in federal road funds.
The bridge is planned to be built in southwest Detroit in an area roughly between Zug Island and Historic Fort Wayne. Construction would force the demolition of at least 250 homes, dozens of businesses and up to five churches in Detroit's Delray neighborhood.
Currently the Ambassador Bridge connects the two cities, with truck traffic moving through city streets in Windsor.
Ambassador Bridge owner Matty Moroun wants to build a second privately owned span next to his bridge. He has battled Snyder bitterly over the project with a campaign of TV and radio advertisements.
kbouffard@detnews.com
(517) 371-3660
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