DRIC Lives: Mich House approves bridge project

LANSING, Mich. — It was close, but the DRIC bridge project narrowly escaped the axe late last night.

The state’s Democratic-controlled House gave the green light to the $5-billion border project by a vote of 56 to 51.

According to local media, the bill survived intense lobbying by opponents and a flurry of last-minute amendments, which would have effectively killed Michigan’s involvement in DRIC.

The bill still faces another major hurdle in the Republican-led Senate, however. If approved there, the Michigan Department of Transportation would be free to enter into contracts to build the new bridge between Windsor and Detroit.

Nine Democrats and all Republicans voted against the bill, which had to be decided by June 1. Led by Sen. Alan Cropsey (R), opponents have called the DRIC project a "boondoggle" that would undercut the current Ambassador Bridge.

At the same time, the owner of the private Ambassador Bridge, Matty Moroun, promised to fight the DRIC in court.

"There is no legitimate reason to build the DRIC bridge other than to add to the portfolio of bridges managed by the Michigan Department of Transportation," Moroun said in a statement published in the Detroit News. "Why build another government bridge when private funds will pay for a second span to the Ambassador Bridge, without taxpayer cost?

"If you have limited funds and a hole in the roof of your house, should you spend the money you have on building a new house next door or fixing the hole in your roof?"

Canada’s $550 million offer to pay for cash-strapped Michigan’s portion of the project likely helped push the bill through.

The money would eventually be paid back to Canada through bridge tolls.