Grosse Ile's historic free bridge gets $20M in state funding for critical repairs

The Grosse Ile Parkway Bridge, often referred to by locals as the "free bridge" to distinguish it from the privately owned "toll bridge," is getting $20 million from the state for much-needed repairs and upgrades, two Downriver legislators announced.

The bridge, a historic swing truss span across part of the Detroit River, was in such bad shape in 2021 that a group of Grosse Ile residents started a lottery club in hopes of winning a jackpot to fix it.

And less than a year ago, officials began speculating about the span’s future.

Tuesday, at an evening community meeting, state Sen. Darrin Camilleri, D-Trenton, and state Rep. Jaime Churches, D-Wyandotte, gave new hope to residents who depend on the bridge to get to and from their homes.

The Free Press reported in late June on the $20-million bridge earmark, but not which lawmakers sought it. At the meeting, the two legislators took credit for making sure the money was in the state budget to reinforce the Wayne County-owned bridge.

Going back 150 years

Originally a railroad span built in 1873, the bridge linked Grosse Ile to Trenton.

In 1932, the rail bridge became a roadway, Grosse Ile Parkway. By some accounts there was a plan, which never became a reality, to build a concrete cantilever arch bridge like the Belle Isle Bridge to also connect Grosse Ile to Canada.

In 2019, Wayne County abruptly closed the bridge, lengthening commutes to and from the island by an hour or more for thousands of motorists and spurring traffic jams and road rage. The next year, it was closed again for decking repairs.

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Then in 2021, the span had been deemed unsafe, and a nearly $9 million contract was approved for underwater pier restoration, set to begin in April and reopen with a target date of Oct. 1, that was expected to extend the bridge's life for decades.

But the repairs ended up taking longer, and causing considerable frustration.

The bridge had been closed so long, some said, it was beginning to hurt home values.

And a when $1 billion jackpot-winning Mega Millions ticket was sold in Novi — 46 miles away from Grosse Ile — some residents, partly in jest, started a lottery club to see if they could win the money need to make repairs and reopen the bridge.

The free bridge reopened in late 2021, but since then, more problems have been uncovered.

'Lifeline to the island'

It was unclear Tuesday whether the state grant will be enough, but as a show of support — and appreciation — Grosse Ile residents, the township supervisor and trustees, Wayne County officials and U.S. Rep. Debbie Dingell, attended the meeting.

"The Grosse Ile Free Bridge is the lifeline to the island," Camilleri said in prepared remarks. "We have spent a lot of time advocating for this project, and I’m proud we were able to secure this $20 million to make sure the bridge can keep serving our Downriver community for years to come."

In later 2021, Camilleri had emphasized the importance of investing in local infrastructure.

Churches, who added Tuesday that she grew up on Grosse Ile, and understands "the massive inconvenience, financial burden and safety concerns that come with living on the island" also released a statement saying that she pushed for repairs.

And she promised she will "continue to advocate for future investments for Downriver."

Contact Frank Witsil: 313-222-5022 or [email protected].

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Grosse Ile free bridge gets $20M for repairs after years of problems