We're still waiting for the formal announcement, but it looks like Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder and the Canadian government will finally announce the plans for a new international bridge crossing, a $2.1 billion project adding a new link to the Detroit-Windsor trade route.
Increased traffic over the Ambassador Bridge warranted a partnership between Michigan and the Canadian government to build a second bridge span, tentatively dubbed the "New International Trade Crossing." Those plans, of course, were hampered by members of the Republican-controlled Michigan legislature (who voted against the partnership) and Ambassador Bridge owner Matty Moroun, who argued the second span would limit his own business interests. The Canadians and Snyder are expected to announce an interlocal agreement that doesn't require approval from the state legislature.
Despite Moroun's $5 million campaign to trample these international transit plans, it seems the Canucks have won a major skirmish in the Battle of the Bridge (though, this just in, the Detroit News reports the Michigan House Appropriations Committee already amended a funding bill to keep Gov. Snyder from tapping public funds).
Canada has offered to pay $550 million of the state's portion of expenses, which they would later recoup through toll revenue, leaving no cost to Michiganders, and plans for the NITC counter that the constraints of the Ambassador Bridge limit economic growth.
Our question to you Huffington Post readers -- what are we going to call this new span? The New International Trade Crossing"lacks pizazz, don't you think?
Vote below on our potential names for the new bridge, and leave your own ideas in the comments.