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An announcement is expected to come later this week that the $1-billion government-backed Windsor-Detroit bridge will be built.

An agreement between Michigan and the Canadian government appears to have finally been reached that will lead to construction of the long-awaited Detroit River International Crossing (DRIC) bridge.

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It may take up to a year for construction to start because Michigan is so far behind in the process. Expropriation still has to occur on that side of the border.

Environmental approval for the project in both Canada and the U.S. has already been granted under the lengthy binational DRIC study, which began about seven years ago. The Brighton Beach-Delray industrial corridor was chosen as a location as a result.

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Gov. Rick Snyder for months has been exploring ways to get around his fellow legislators in Lansing to grant final approval for the bridge. He appears to have settled on what’s known as “an interlocal agreement.”

Canada has offered Michigan up to $550 million to pay its share of the project and plans to recoup the funds through bridge tolls.

Once the announcement to proceed with construction of the DRIC bridge is complete, nearly everyone involved is anticipating court challenges from Ambassador Bridge billionaire owner Matty Moroun, who has been fighting for years to stop the project and protect his $60 million in annual toll revenues.

“I would assume litigation would be part of that,” Snyder told the Detroit Free Press. “That’s been the history of this particular project.”

Windsor Star