Mich. state senate blocks new bridge construction
A Republican-led committee in the Senate has blocked legislation to authorize construction of a new bridge between Detroit and Windsor favored by Gov. Rick Snyder.
Business Week reports:
“„A spokeswoman for Republican Senate Majority Leader Randy Richardville, who sponsored the bridge legislation, said there were no plans to do anything more with the bill defeated Thursday and no near-term plans to introduce alternative legislation.
“„That would be a legislative defeat for first-year Republican Gov. Rick Snyder, who supports the new bridge. But Snyder wouldn’t quit on the proposal Thursday, calling for a “cooling down period” to talk to lawmakers about the proposal.
The governor and the Michigan Chamber of Commerce say that by connecting highways in the U.S. and Canada the New International Trade Crossing would make trade over the border more efficient and support business expansion.
Canada has already begun work on its side of the bridge and has offered to finance the $550 million needed to cover the costs of building the Michigan side of the span.
The U.S. Dept. of Transportation has said that Michigan can use that $550 million as matching funds to secure federal road repair money for the state.
Some are speculating that Snyder may eventually decide to close the bridge deal with Canada by executive order if the Legislature refuses to OK the project.
