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Canada,
Michigan
name new
border
bridge
authority
as
project
moves
toward
2020
completion
WINDSOR,
ON (Tell
Us Det)
-
Canadian
Transport
Minister
Lisa
Raitt
and
Michigan
Gov.
Rick
Snyder
called a
news
conference
Wednesday
morning
to
announce
the
appointed
members
of an
authority
to
oversee
construction
of a $2
billion
public
bridge
between
Detroit
and
Windsor,
Ontario.
Michigan's
designees
are
Michael
Hayes,
Birgit
Klohs
and Matt
Rizik.
Hayes
leads
the
Midland
Center
for the
Arts.
Klohs
heads
The
Right
Place, a
western
Michigan
economic
development
organization.
Rizik is
with
Rock
Ventures,
the
umbrella
entity
for Dan
Gilbert's
investments
and real
estate.
Canada's
members
are
Kristine
Burr and
Genevieve
Gagnon.
A third
Canadian
member
will be
chosen
by the
Windsor-Detroit
Bridge
Authority.
Burr is
assistant
deputy
minister
of
policy
for
Transport
Canada.
Gagnon
heads
trucking
company
XTL
Transport.
Quick
Facks:
•
The
International
Authority
was
created
pursuant
to
the
Crossing
Agreement
signed
by
Canada
and
Michigan
on
June
15,
2012.
Comprised
of
six
members
with
equal
representation
from
Canada
and
Michigan,
the
International
Authority
will
oversee
and
approve
key
steps
in
the
P3
procurement
process
for
the
new
Windsor-Detroit
bridge
crossing.
It
will
also
monitor
the
compliance
of
the
Windsor-Detroit
Bridge
Authority
with
the
Crossing
Agreement
signed
by
Canada
and
Michigan.
•
The
Windsor-Detroit
Bridge
Authority
was
created
in
2012
and
is
Canada’s
newest
Crown
Corporation.
The
WDBA
will
manage
the
procurement
process
for
the
design,
construction,
operation
and
maintenance
of
the
new
bridge
through
a
public-private
partnership
(P3).
It
will
also
oversee
the
work
of
the
public-private
partnership,
manage
the
concession
agreement
and
payments,
and
set
and
collect
tolls.
•
The
project
is
known
as
the
Detroit
River
International
Crossing
(DRIC)
in
Canada
and
the
New
International
Trade
Crossing
(NITC)
in
Michigan.
The
project
consists
of
four
major
infrastructure
components:
the
bridge,
the
Canadian
port
of
entry
(POE),
the
U.S.
POE,
and
an
interchange
connection
to
Interstate
75
in
Michigan.
Canadian
Transport
Minister
Lisa
Raitt
said,
“These
appointments
to the
International
Authority
and the
Windsor-Detroit
Bridge
Authority
are a
significant
step
forward
towards
building
a new
publicly-owned
bridge
between
Canada
and the
United
States.
We will
benefit
greatly
from
their
knowledge
and
commitment
to
community
service.”
Gov.
Snyder
said,
“This
milestone
is the
latest
achievement
in an
exciting
project
that
will
create
short-
and
long-term
jobs,
energize
the
economy
and
enhance
security
for
Michigan
and
Canada.
We’re
fortunate
to have
such
talented,
dedicated
appointees
who are
willing
to
serve.”
Michigan
and
Canadian
leaders
have
agreed
to build
the
bridge
over the
Detroit
River
between
Detroit
and
Windsor.
The
bridge's
Detroit
footprint
would be
on the
city's
southwest
side.
The
bridge
is
expected
to open
in 2020.
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