WASHINGTON D.C. – The U.S. State Department Friday announced it has issued a presidential permit to the state of Michigan for the New International Trade Crossing between Detroit and Windsor, Ontario. When ground will be broken, however, is anybody’s guess.
?This is all about jobs for today and tomorrow,? Gov. Rick Snyder said in a news release. ?This is a major construction project that is expected to create 12,000 direct jobs and as many as 31,000 indirect jobs. Getting Michigan-made products to more markets faster will enhance our economic competitiveness in the future and help our state create more jobs.?
Canada has agreed to pick up the state?s $550-million share of the bridge.
But legal challenges started before the permit was issued. Earlier this week, Manuel (Matty) Moroun, who owns the 84-year-old Ambassador Bridge, filed a lawsuit in federal court saying the State Department?s presidential permit process is unconstitutional and asked for an injunction to block the permit.
In the State Department?s release it said, the permit ? which clears the way to construction ? ?contributes to ensuring that our border infrastructure supports increased competitiveness, job creation, and broad-based prosperity in the United States and Canada.?
Lisa Raitt, Canada?s labour minister, put out a statement welcoming the issuance of the permit, saying it ?represents an important step towards a new bridge which will be needed for growing trade and traffic at the busiest Canada-U.S. commercial border crossing with over 8,000 trucks crossing each day.?
?This project will create thousands of jobs and opportunities on both sides of the border both during the construction period and in the years to come,? she said.
According to a release by the Canadian government, the signing of the permit clears the way to the next steps including acquisition of properties in the U.S., relocation of utilities, land clearing and more detailed design. A private sector partner is expected to be hired to design, finance, build and operate the new bridge.
The Detroit Free Press contributed to this story.
