detroit river

Michigan DOT say they expect to have a law in place for a P3 concession to build a new international toll bridge over the Detroit River before the end of the year. HB4961 is the bill. The Canadians already have the legal framework for a toll concession.

Michigan DOT envisage a "partnership" with Transport Canada, the national DOT with defined roles for other stakeholders such as FHWA, Ministry Transportation Ontario and border services agencies.

Michigan legislators have passed language in their budget for next fiscal year to prepare the way for concessioning a third toll crossing to Canada from Detroit. The budget contains $2.5m for the Michigan DOT to continue to advance preliminary legal, financial, engineering and environmental permitting to prepare for seeking a private sector toll concessionaire to finance, build, and operate the bridge.

The Government of Canada today announced it had bought 38 hectares (94 acres) of land needed for the new toll bridge on the Detroit River that is to be built under a toll concession administered by the governments of the US, Canada, Michigan and Ontario. The bridge so far known by the bland name Detroit River International Crossing (DRIC) has obtained most of the needed environmental clearances and should go out to concession in 2010 for completion 2014.