Peters, Stabenow Announce Over $1.8 Million for Blue Water Bridge International Smart Freight Corridor

WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Senators Gary Peters (MI) and Debbie Stabenow (MI) today announced a $1,806,218 federal grant for the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) to go toward the Blue Water Bridge International Smart Freight Corridor project. The funding is awarded by the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Strengthening Mobility and Revolutionizing Transportation grant program and is made possible through the bipartisan infrastructure law that Peters and Stabenow helped enact. The grant will be used for the Blue Water Bridge to implement new technologies to reduce freight delays and ensure the efficient movement of goods across the bridge via truck.

“As one of our nation’s busiest border crossings between the U.S. and Canada, it’s essential that the Blue Water Bridge is able to facilitate smooth trade and travel to support Michigan as a major hub for international commerce,” said Senator Peters, who has advocated for increased investments in the Blue Water Bridge through his role as Chairman of the Senate Homeland Security Committee. “I’m proud to have helped enact the bipartisan infrastructure law that made this funding possible and will help to improve efficiency and strengthen our economy, while prioritizing the safe transport of goods across the Blue Water Bridge.” 

The Blue Water Bridge is one of the busiest international crossings in North America – the second busiest commercial crossing between the US and Canada! These funds will help us reduce the backup of goods traveling across the bridge and keep commerce flowing between our two countries,” said Senator Stabenow.

This grant helps us capitalize on technology for more efficient and safer crossing of freight haulers,” said MDOT Acting Director Brad Wieferich. “We appreciate our federal partners for recognizing these benefits.”

The goal of the project is to turn the Blue Water Bridge into a “smart corridor” by using new technologies to improve coordination between shipping companies, vehicles, border agencies, and infrastructure operators along a key international freight corridor. The proposed corridor starts at the international border on the Blue Water Bridge and extends westward on I-94/I-69 through the Port of Entry at Pine Grove Avenue. The project will help provide more accurate arrival and processing times for users, operators, and border agencies – improving the movement of goods across the Blue Water Bridge as a result.

Currently, trucks carrying freight across the border can face long delays during peak periods. Commercial vehicle traffic regularly exceeds passenger automobile traffic. Idling trucks carrying freight not only harm air quality in the surrounding communities, but the delays can result in increased supply chain costs, which are ultimately passed onto to consumers. Completion of the project will help reduce wait times, environmental and health impacts, and traffic congestion at the border, and strengthen supply chains.

According to the Department of Transportation, goods moving across the U.S.-Canada border were valued at more than $398 million in 2020, with $71.5 billion passing through the Blue Water Bridge.

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