A U.S. presidential permit has been approved for the new Detroit-Windsor crossing.
Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder made the announcement at a news conference in Detroit on Friday.
"This is all about jobs for today and tomorrow," Snyder said. "This is a major construction project that is expected to create 12,000 direct jobs and as many as 31,000 indirect jobs."
Michigan applied for the presidential permit on June 21, 2012, shortly after Snyder signed the New International Trade Crossing agreement with Canadian officials.
Snyder says effectiveness of the agreement was subject to approval by the U.S. State Department. The department conducted an extended public comment period before approving the permit, which now makes the Michigan-Canada agreement operative.
The Canadian government is welcoming the signing of the permit for the NITC, or the Detroit River International Crossing as it is often referred to in Canada. Minister of Labour Lisa Raitt attended the announcement on behalf of Minister of Transport Denis Lebel.
"The presidential permit 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," says Raitt.
Windsor Mayor Eddie Francis says he’s not surprised it was approved.
“About a week ago I was told an announcement was imminent,” says Francis. “It was not a matter of if, but when.”
Francis says the signing will benefit both Canada and the U.S.
“There’s a tremendous amount of benefit for everyone, not just Windsor-Detroit,” says Francis.
The Rt. Hon. Herb Gray Parkway leading to the new crossing is being built right now. The earliest time for the new bridge to be open is 2020.
Aside from Raitt, other Canadian politicians at Friday's announcement included Essex MPP Jeff Watson, Chatham-Kent Essex MP Dave Van Kesteren and Canadian Ambassador to the U.S. Gary Doer and an official from Transport Canada.
