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Michigan governor considering 'interlocal' bridge agreement

LANSING, Mich. — Gov. Rick Snyder said Wednesday that he's considering fallback options in case the Legislature doesn't back a plan to build a new bridge from Detroit to Windsor, Ontario, including seeking an "interlocal agreement" with Canada that wouldn't require legislative approval.

The Republican governor said he hopes the GOP-led House and Senate will back the bridge plan. But given his lack of success in getting legislation through the Senate, he's also pursuing other options.

Snyder met with Canadian Transport Minister Denis Lebel and other top officials in Windsor last week to discuss plans for a new bridge. He has declined to speak much about the negotiations, but said Wednesday he remains hopeful a bridge agreement can be reached this year.

"If you look at the state constitution, you'll see it actually includes Canada as a potential party to an interlocal agreement. It's kind of unique," Snyder said.

The governor said a separate bridge between Detroit and Windsor is needed, even if the owners of the existing Ambassador Bridge carry out their plans to add a second span. He said the bridge would add jobs and speed up exports and imports between the U.S. and Canada.

Canadian officials favor the international crossing Snyder supports, since it would allow traffic to remain on freeways in both countries rather than traveling on local streets.

The Ambassador Bridge's owners are fighting efforts to build the other bridge, pushing a November ballot proposal that would require voters' approval to build the alternative bridge and running an aggressive ad campaign saying it would cost taxpayers a lot of money. Mickey Blashfield, a spokesman for the ballot measure campaign, recently criticized Snyder's consideration of an interlocal agreement.

"Given the magnitude of the decision to build a publicly funded bridge for the taxpayers of this state, we believe his decision to exploit this constitutional provision in an unconventional manner is an affront to not only the legislative process but to the residents of Michigan," Blashfield said.

Snyder told a vendors' trade association Wednesday that the Ambassador Bridge owners' claims are untrue. The Canadian government has offered to pick up the cost to build Michigan's bridge plaza, getting repaid through future toll revenues and not leaving state taxpayers liable even if tolls don't fully cover the cost.

The bridge itself would be built and operated by a private company through bids.

The Michigan Campaign Finance Network reported this week that the Detroit International Bridge Co. has spent $1.6 million in 2012 on TV ads opposing the new bridge. The company spent more than $6 million airing TV ads in 2011.

Kevin Jones of The Trucker staff can be reached for comment at [email protected] .

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