DRIC bridge would make money right away: report

DETROIT — A second, publicly controlled bridge at the Windsor-Detroit Gateway would generate about $70 million in its first year, increasing to $240 million by 2035.

The report, authored by Wilbur Smith and Associates for the Michigan DOT, was released to try and win support from skeptical Republicans who control the state Senate.

A bill permitting the DRIC team to continue on with the bridge project was passed by the House, but faces stiffer opposition in the Senate.

Projections strong traffic growth at the gateway as well, from 5.9 million vehicles in 2016 to 11.7 million by 2035.

The bridge would operate as a public-private partnership, which includes companies and governments in both the U.S. and Canada.

Fearing that decision makers in the cash-strapped state would kill funding for DRIC, Ottawa recently offered to cover Michigan’s half of the $550 million bridge.

Canada would recoup the loan through bridge tolls.

The report also finds there’s plenty of toll traffic to go around. It says that the competing Ambassador Bridge would make $53.3 million in 2015, rising to $150 million by 2035.

But the owner of the privately owned Ambassador Bridge claims the government-backed bridge would take up to two-thirds of the Ambassador’s commercial revenue.

Matty Moroun disputes that two bridges are needed in the region as commercial traffic volumes have plummeted in the last 10 years.

He is even suing governments in both countries in an attempt to scuttle the project.

Proponents of the P3 crossing insist that trips will rise along with the improving economy and increased trade.

Windsor-Detroit, arguably the busiest land border trade gateway in the world, continues to have only four lanes of crossing capacity while Buffalo, N.Y. and Laredo, Tex (the second and third busiest crossings in North America) have 14 and 28 lanes, respectively.

The entire 250-page report can be accessed by clicking here.