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HarsensIslandBridge.info HARSENS ISLAND BRIDGE INFORMATION This site is not associated with The Detroit International Bridge Company
FEBRUARY 25, 2008
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THE LATEST NEWS January 18, 2008 On the evening of January 15, 2008 there was a HITA (Harsens Island Transportation Authority) meeting at the Clay Township Hall to update the public on the status of the proposed bridge. The room was filled to capacity. The location of the bridge connection to M-29 on the mainland has been shifted East a few hundred yards to the current location of Riverview Campground. The riparian rights problems appear to be resolved. The proposed bridge would cross the river without crossing other people's property. The environmental concerns over the disruption of the Sturgeon breading grounds may be resolved by the Detroit International Bridge Company funding the DNR's construction of an artificial reef elsewhere for Sturgeon habitat. The bridge is now a double leaf design in order to accommodate a wider opening, 150 feet. To the piers in the water, triangular ice plows have been added to break up the ice floating down the river. Residents expressed concern over possible flooding due to ice jams. The bridge company representatives said their studies show that will not happen. The bridge company is investigating methods to minimize the impact to wetlands on the island side. A retention pond is proposed to be constructed at Island Drive on the mainland to handle runoff from the new paving at the mainland side bridge approach and toll area. On the mainland side the bridge approach tie into M-29 is proposed to be a round-about instead of a traffic signal. On the island side left and right turn lanes have been added to make for better traffic flow. A question was asked about the length of delay which can be expected while the bridge is opened for the passage of a ship. The answer was "A matter of minutes. I don't know exactly. As short as possible." Questions were asked about the safety of the bridge during and following ice jams. The answer was "We will be doing periodic inspections every two years and following an extreme event." The question of fees arose again. The answer was "Fees will be comparable to the ferry fees today." There will be a bike and pedestrian lane. There will be three lanes for tolls on the mainland side, one of which will at sometime in the future become an electronic toll lane. Copies of traffic and environmental studies will be available after approved by MDOT and MDEQ. When asked if there was a connection between the DIBC and the developers of the Grande Pointe Development the DIBC representative said "I know of no connection." A question was asked about the carrying capacity of the bridge and the answer given was that it is being designed to carry any vehicle which is permitted to travel on Michigan roads. That led to a follow up question about whether this bridge is intended to serve as a route to Walpole Island and Canada in the future. The bridge company representative said "No." The question again arose regarding
when islanders get to vote on whether they want the bridge. The
answer was given as before that this is a private commercial venture
with no public funds and does not require a public vote. Some
interest was expressed in the organization of the HITA (Harsens
Island Transportation Authority), how they got the power to represent
the people of Harsens Island and why so little information is available
about HITA online. Full sized display boards of the new renderings and plans of the ramp approaches on the mainland and the island are available for inspection at the Clay Township Hall. Detroit International Bridge Company representatives met with MDEQ on the day following this meeting to begin to resolve the issues which caused the denial earlier this year.
NEW EMAIL COMMENTS RECEIVED February 21, 2008 "Isn't it strange that the DNR decides it MUST close the boat ramp which Bob Bryson uses for emergency service to the mainland the winter before a millionaire developer is going to start making his big political push to get his bridge built? Did the developer use his influence to bring this about? Seems likely to me."
February 13, 2008 "It is with great interest that I see all the concern about the environmental impact of building the proposed bridge to Harsens Island and the changes made to the plan to mitigate those concerns. That's great. The real problem is that good is manifestly overshadowed by all the development that will transpire on the island once the bridge gateway is established. The island is basically a vast wet land and a true jewel of nature. One of the largest fresh water deltas in the world. Almost all, if not all, buildable sites have already been built on. Ironically most of which were built up by filling in the then existing wetlands. As others have pointed out, if you think some benevolent billionaire is building this bridge out of some sort of civic responsibility and for the benefit of us poor islanders you are very naive. The building of the bridge is to aid the developers in the islands future build up. Think Boys Club. And others have figured out, it is the first step in building another route for truck traffic to and from Canada. Wake up folks, Detroiters are fighting the proposal to add another bridge span adjacent the current Ambassador Bridge and Port Huron is screaming about the plan to triple the size of the current truck plaza there. All because of the negative impact to their communities. We are the smallest pebble to push out of the way. Cheapest too. To quote Jonie Mitchell "They paved paradise and put in a parking lot" That is the environmental impact we should be discussing, that is the environmental impact we should be worrying about, that is the environmental impact we should be trying to stop. Like an invading colony of ants, the proposed Harsens Island bridge is just the first one we're seeing."
February 11, 2008 "Our family has been on the island for over 50 years. We say build it, please..... If it brings development, so be it. New, clean, well maintained, planned developments would be a great addition to the Island."
February 8, 2008 "I recently posted this thought in a forum and after writing it, while admittedly an outside-the-box idea, it really doesn’t sound half bad….. As a resident of the island, I really do not want a bridge. The reasons are the obvious ones. That being said, I had this thought the other day as I was getting off the ferry:
If this moves forward and they start construction, wouldn't it be something if I got in my boat, filled up with gas, brought extra gas and then just hovered over the spot where they want to put the bridge pillars!
See, riparian rights is what got me thinking this. Riparian rights state that waterfront people actually own the land under the water out a certain distance but the water surface is owned by us all. This is why you can ice fish, boat etc. in more places than one would normally think. SO...if we OWN the surface of the water, why couldn't we set up shop right over their (the bridge people) riparian owned riverbed and prevent them from building- think Tiananmen Square!
And note, someone will probably say, hey, why not anchor?? well, that anchor would be on their property, right? That's why I'd hover there- throwing it gear and out or doing slow circles. And if more peops join in, we could have a standing flotilla ready to do their time in the "picket line" so to speak!
Awesome idea, right???"
OLD NEWS September 19, 2007 On September 13, 2007
the Detroit International Bridge Company filed a "Petition
for Contested Case Hearings" with the MDEQ. This petition is the application to appeal the MDEQ's decision of July 18, 2007 which denied the Detriot International Bridge Company's application to build a bridge to Harsens Island. The bridge company's representative states in the petition that "The permit application was denied for a
number of reasons, all of which can and are being effecively mitigated.
There is a critical need for the project as currently only a ferry
provides public access and this service cannot be relied upon during
critical periods." The applicant had 60 days to file an appeal with the MDEQ and they have done so within the required timeframe. To read the July 18,
2007 letter of denial click
here. To read the September 13, 2007 petition for a hearing click here.
BRIDGE OWNER THE DETROIT INTERNATIONAL BRIDGE COMPANY
BRIDGE DESIGNER
To view the designing engineer's aerial rendering click below. BRIDGE DESCRIPTION AND PICTURE THE HARSENS ISLAND BRIDGE IS PROPOSED TO BE A BASCULE BRIDGE CROSSING THE ST. CLAIR RIVER FROM THE MAINLAND, CLAY TOWNSHIP, MICHIGAN TO HARSENS ISLAND, CLAY TOWNSHIP, MICHIGAN
Maps of the area, detailed location of proposed bridge and preliminary plans.
On February 28, 2007 The Detroit International Bridge Company applied to the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality for a permit. This page provides access to the MDEQ website, the application, public notices and hearings, laws, etc.
The Detroit Ambassador Bridge Company has applied to the U.S. Coast Guard for approval of location and plans for a new highway bascule drawbridge. This page provides access to the Coast Guard website, public notices, etc.
What is a bascule bridge?
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