There are high hope in Michigan that the proposal to build a new international bridge will take a step forward sometime this month.


Lieutenant Governor Brian Calley, who is spearheading Gov. Rick Snyder's project to build a new bridge across the Detroit River, said at a Michigan Republican Party conference that he expects the plan to move forward in the legislature in October.

He added that the New International Trade Crossing, as the bridge has been dubbed, would boost businesses throughout Michigan.

"Those entities that make things here, be they automobiles, furniture, chemicals, cereal or baby food or even Slinkys, all these things we make in Michigan, and agricultural products as well, Canadians buy more of that than anybody else in the world," he said.

More recently, Michigan's Senate Economic Development Committee heard from representatives of Ford and Chrysler about the need for a new bridge. Officials from Ford told the panel that delays caused by congestion at the Ambassador Bridge could translate into an additional $800.

Observers suggested a vote could take place in the coming weeks.

Calley said he and Gov. Snyder are not deterred by opposition from the owner of the private Ambassador Bridge as well as some legislators in their own party. In fact, he previously indicated there are several ways to authorize construction of a new bridge even if the Legislature votes against the plan.

Calley didn't elaborate what those options might be, but various media reports speculated he could have been hinting at an executive order from Snyder's office or for Washington to eventually take over control of the project from Michigan.