A Republican-authored Michigan House budget proposal could halt the Michigan Department of Transportation's land assemblage and engineering work in southwest Detroit for construction of the Gordie Howe International Bridge.

The House Appropriations Committee on Wednesday passed a transportation budget plan that eliminates the boilerplate language that has authorized MDOT to work on the Detroit River bridge project as long as Canada reimburses the agency for all of its expenses.

MDOT relied on the budget bill language for several years during former Gov. Rick Snyder's administration to buy hundreds of parcels in Detroit's Delray neighborhood and take land through eminent domain from residents and business owners who refused to sell.

"The disallowance of MDOT to do reimbursable work on the project would stop the project where it's at," said former Lt. Gov. Brian Calley, who was deeply involved in the project during the Snyder administration. "Canada has continued to be faithful in its pledge to reimburse the state for 100 percent of its costs."

Rep. Matt Maddock, chairman of the House Appropriations transportation subcommittee, said he wants Canada to pay MDOT upfront for its expenses.

"Why do Michigan taxpayers have to be the credit card for Canada?" asked Maddock, R-Milford.

Canada is financing the $2.9 billion bridge project through a public-private partnership, pledging its treasury to pay back a consortium of private infrastructure companies if tolls don't support the long-term debt of the span.

MDOT's expenses being reimbursed by the Windsor-Detroit Bridge Authority include time for transportation planners, real estate acquisition and title work, relocating utilities in the path of the planned bridge and customs plaza in Detroit and design work for ramps that will connect the bridge to I-75.

"Canada, through the Windsor Detroit Bridge Authority, is financing the Gordie Howe International Bridge because of the vital benefits it will provide to the flow of commerce between the two countries," MDOT spokesman Jeff Cranson said Wednesday in a statement. "The project enjoys broad support from job providers and labor leaders across Michigan, and we are confident lawmakers know that."

Between Jan. 1 and March 30, the Canadian government reimbursed MDOT for $24.7 million in expenses, including nearly $13.7 million for land acquisition, $6.9 million for utility relocation work and $1.4 million in MDOT staff time, according to a May 31 MDOT memo to state Budget Director Chris Kolb.

"We have more important things to do," Maddock said. "There's resources we have to consume having to track this money back and forth."

Maddock said he's not trying to halt the project — he just wants Canada to send Michigan an advance payment for MDOT's services.

"I'm not trying to stop it," Maddock told Crain's.

Gideon D'Assandro, a spokesman for House Republicans, told Gongwer News Service that Appropriations Chair Rep. Shane Hernandez is meeting with the administration and the bridge spending language will be changed in the spending bill.

Calley, now president of the Small Business Association of Michigan, said the boilerplate language in the Maddock-authored budget bill "would effectively end the project."

"There are certain tasks involved with building a bridge that cannot be farmed out to anyone else. MDOT is the only agency that can do the work," Calley said.

The bridge project has long had the backing of Detroit's automakers, the Detroit Regional Chamber and Business Leaders for Michigan.

"The Gordie Howe bridge is critical to Michigan's economic success — not just the jobs that would be created in conjunction with construction but the ongoing economic activity that comes from having Canada as Michigan's biggest trading partner," BLM CEO Doug Rothwell said Wednesday in a statement. "Michigan workers and businesses across the state will be negatively impacted if progress on the bridge is impeded."

Seven years ago this month, Snyder bypassed the Legislature and signed a crossing agreement with Canadian leaders to build the new bridge.

The bridge project has slowly made progress in the ensuing years, running into continued court battles with the Moroun family, owners of the Ambassador Bridge and the Detroit International Bridge Co.

The Morouns own vacant land and a trucking terminal in Delray in the pathway of the bridge and customs plaza that MDOT has been in the process of condemning through an eminent domain lawsuit in Wayne County Circuit Court.

A representative for the Detroit International Bridge Co. could not be reached Wednesday afternoon for comment.

Supporters of the long-planned Gordie Howe bridge say it will be the largest cable-stayed bridge in North America, with towers rivaling the height of Detroit's Renaissance Center.

Bridging North America is the consortium of Canadian companies consisting of ACS Infrastructure Canada Inc., Fluor Canada Ltd. and Dragados Canada Inc. that will design and build the bridge, with construction anticipated to be complete by the end of 2024.

Separately, Lt. Gov. Garlin Gilchrist II is scheduled to attend an event Friday morning in Windsor during which Canada's infrastructure and communities minister and the WDBA are planning to announce a community benefits plan for the bridge project, according to a media advisory.