WINDSOR | New International Bridge Crossing | Approved for Construction

[Symz]

source: http://www.windsorstar.com/news/Brid...928/story.html

Bridge forges ahead with petition

Want question on Michigan ballot this fall

Ambassador Bridge officials claim to have gathered enough signatures to get the Windsor-Detroit bridge issue on the ballot for Michigan’s statewide elections this November, but language in last week’s historic agreement with Canada may make that irrelevant.

The 54-page agreement backing construction of the $1-billion Detroit River International Crossing was signed by Gov. Rick Snyder and Canada’s transportation minister Denis Lebel. There was a clause indicating the agreement is to be based on law in existence when it was signed and Michigan will “not be able to renege by changing its constitution.”

That would seem to dismiss the bridge company’s petition initiative to require voter approval on any new border crossing in Michigan.

“The language is standard and would have been incorporated regardless of the ballot initiative,” said Ken Silfven, spokesman for Snyder’s office. “The purpose of any contract or agreement is to have it binding and not impaired by other actions. That’s why the agreement is written that way.”

Bridge officials did not respond Tuesday to The Star.

But bridge spokesman Mickey Blashfield, who is leading the petition initiative, told the Detroit News he was unconcerned about Friday’s announcement.

He described the agreement as “a contrived stunt (by Snyder) to get between people and the ballot box.

“It doesn’t change a thing — in fact, it strengthens the voice of the people,” Blashfield said.

The bridge has collected more than the required 322,609 signatures needed to get the issue on the November ballot and will have them submitted to the Secretary of State’s office in Lansing before the July 9 deadline, Blashfield said.

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Read more: http://www.windsorstar.com/news/Brid...#ixzz1yInhEqTL

[RoseCityFreePress]

Originally Posted by sa230e

I'm not sure about that. Driving down E.C. Row towards LaSalle the skyline you see is that of Zug Island.

I think what he means is that coming off the parkway after you have past through the Toll Plaza the approach heading to the Bridge will be facing north towards Downtown before curving off to the west onto the bridge.

[go_leafs_go02]

How could 300,000 members of the public sign a petition in Michigan giving a billionaire a monopoly on a dangerous bridge, in which it would be replaced by a brand new bridge that costs nothing to Michigan taxpayers itself.

[Blitz]

^ The bridge owner has paid millions of dollars in tv advertising that misleads people. I just saw an ad on a Detroit tv station that claimed taxpayers will have to foot the bill for $100,000,000 - where this information comes from is anyone's guess but uninformed people believe it.
People in western Michigan and northern Michigan are not as up-to-speed on this issue so that's another concern.

Regarding the actual bridge, yes I was talking about the view that drivers would have after they go through the toll plaza and drive up the inclined approach toward the bridge.

[go_leafs_go02]

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/windso...-michigan.html

The Bridge has been signed off by Obama. Construction to begin sooner rather than later!