Canada’s transportation minister Chuck Strahl met with Gov.-elect Rick Snyder on Monday in an effort to win his support to build the D.R.I.C. (Detroit River International Crossing) bridge.

During the meeting, Strahl reaffirmed Canada’s commitment to build the new Windsor-Detroit border crossing. Furthermore, the $550 million loan Canada offered to Michigan to pay for the cost of the bridge project remains fully intact. The final hurdle in building the bridge is approval by the Michigan Legislature. The effort to approve legislation (House Bill 4961) authorizing the D.R.I.C. bridge died at the close of this legislative session.

Snyder issued the following statement at the conclusion of the meeting: “On the topic of building a second span over the Detroit River, I reiterated to the Canadians that I am generally supportive of a second span, but I also made it clear that I want to make sure the project is financially sound and Michigan taxpayers are not burdened with the construction or maintenance costs of a new bridge.”

Strahl pledged to work with the Snyder Administration in the months ahead on understanding the economic benefits of this project.