The Michigan Department of Transportation last week released revenue projections for a second bridge spanning the Detroit River as the Senate gears up for one of the most debated and controversial votes of the session.
MDOT said a second bridge crossing the busy trade route linking Detroit with Ontario, Canada, would generate just under $60 million in toll revenue in 2016, the year the proposed bridge would open. Revenue would rise to $85.1 million by 2025 and $108 million by 2035, according to the department.
The Republican-led Senate demanded that MDOT release the projections as lawmakers debate whether to approve a bill that would advance the $1 billion bridge. The measure, which the Democratic-led House narrowly passed two weeks ago, would allow the state to partner with private companies on the project.
The bridge is estimated to cost $1 billion, with at least $2 billion in additional costs coming from related infrastructure, like new ramps and exits. The project is a partnership between the U.S., Canada, Michigan and Ontario.
Critics of the plan note that the owner of the existing Ambassador Bridge is moving forward with his own privately funded proposal to build a replacement span.
