The city of Detroit will get $48 million in a deal with the state related to construction of a new bridge to Canada.
The city is selling the state land in the Delray neighborhood, where the Gordie Howe International Bridge will be built.
Mayor Mike Duggan wants the money to go to a neighborhood improvement fund, job training for city residents, and air and health monitoring in southwest Detroit.
Here is how the $48 million will be split up, according to the mayor’s plan:
- $33 million to the neighborhood improvement fund
- $10 million to job and skilled trade training for Detroit residents
- $2.4 million invested in air and health monitoring in southwest Detroit, which is where the bridge will be located.
- $3 million to the city’s water and sewerage department and Public Lighting Authority for properties in the project footprint.
Duggan says all Detroit residents will benefit from this deal.
“The state was not willing to fund something that was only for the bridge area, they wanted to do something that was a ‘Detroit package,’ and that’s the package that you see,” he said.
Duggan says the city will renovate 240 vacant homes owned by the Detroit Land Bank Authority as a part of this project.
“Our recommendation is that people in the Delray community get the first opportunity to swap their current house for one of these renovated ones,” Duggan said.
These proposals will go in front of city council next week.
According to representatives from the state's Department of Transportation, the bridge project is on schedule and construction is set to begin next year.
