A week after the election, Michigan Governor Rick Snyder’s administration is switching gears from fighting a ballot proposal that sought to block a new international bridge, to taking further steps to build the New International Trade Crossing bridge.
Governor Snyder's office and top Canadian officials are getting more information out about the proposed bridge between Detroit and Windsor.
Lieutenant Governor Brian Calley and Canadian Consul General Roy Norton spoke to a group in Grand Rapids about the bridge deal Monday. Calley says they want to remind people why both Michigan and Canadian governments want it, go over questions about the signed bridge agreement and the process from here.
“We have an obligation to communicate with the people of this state on big issues and so much of our future is tied to our ability to trade with Canada and so many jobs, hundreds of thousands of jobs, rely on that, that they deserve information,” Calley said.
Right now the bridge is awaiting permits from the US government. Calley told the group trucks could be crossing a new bridge as soon as 2017.
“2014 is when I think bridge construction would start, assuming everything goes well,” Calley said.
But Calley admits everything may not go so well. The owners of the Ambassador Bridge hinted before the election they’d continue their efforts to stop the project no matter what the election results.
