Michigan governor may take different route to build long awaited second span across Detroit River

Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder is prepared to bypass the state legislature in order to build a second span across the Detroit River. Crain’s Detroit is reporting that Snyder is looking at using the power of an interlocal agreement to activate plans, which have been in the works for a few years now.

Snyder would turn to the Michigan Strategic Fund, an economic development board, to partner with Canada. According to Michigan Deputy Budget Director Patrick Anderson, the board can take equity-level risks if it benefits the state’s economy in the future.

“The way I look at it is we’re looking at the best way to take care of the citizens of Michigan and this could be an opportunity to do it,” Snyder told MLive.

Canada said it would cover Michigan’s financial share of the new International Trade Crossing and will use tolls to produce a return on the investment.

Matty Moroun, owner of the Ambassador Bridge, launched a smear campaign on the new span, and recent reports indicated the reason for the delay in an agreement between Michigan and Canada is because Canada wanted to use cheap Chinese steel.

“Anybody familiar with the discussions knows that there is no such issue as Chinese steel,” Canadian Consul General Roy Norton told the Detroit Free Press. “Chinese steel is not going to be used on the project.”