Grosse Ile voters to decide in November whether to purchase toll bridge
Voters will decide on a ballot proposal to approve borrowing up to $59.7 million in bonds over 30 years to finance the purchase and renovations of the Grosse Ile toll bridge, which is currently privately owned by Paul Smoke. Township Supervisor James Budny said during a public meeting Wednesday it's been about two years in the making, since the bridge company first approached him to gauge interest in buying the 111-year-old bridge.
The vote comes amid news this week that the free, Wayne County-owned Grosse Ile Parkway Bridge will close completely for at least a month next year for fixes to pressure plates, which is why proponents of buying the toll bridge say the community needs control over the point of access to Grosse Ile.
Board trustees say the toll bridge currently isn't graded for vehicles weighing more than 7.5 tons, something they intend to change if the millage passes. Weight constraints have raised concerns about how necessary supplies and services such as groceries, fuel construction materials and emergency vehicles to the community would get to the island without the ability to use the Parkway Bridge to transport heavy loads. The height limit for vehicles crossing the bridge also is 7.5 feet, according to its website.
"We've got to control our own destiny," said Grosse Ile resident Mark Johnson, who supports the ballot measure.
https://www.detroitnews.com/story/news/local/wayne-county/2024/10/11/grosse-ile-to-decide-on-buying-toll-bridge/75497496007/