Port Huron Times Herald: Blue Water Bridge plaza project not forgotten

The Blue Water Bridge plaza expansion isn't a priority, but at least it hasn't been forgotten.

Michigan's new U.S. Senator, Gary Peters, put Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson in the hot seat Wednesday at a Senate homeland security committee hearing. Peters pressed him for answers on Homeland Security's commitment to infrastructure and staffing at two of America's busiest land border crossings — at Detroit and Port Huron.

Peters told Johnson that Border Security must do two things — keep us safe and not slow us down — and can't do that without adequate staffing and facilities.

"These two crossings are critical for manufacturers, as I mentioned, for just-in-time delivery, our agricultural sector, which … in Michigan requires safe and efficient transport across the border," Peters said.

Johnson agreed but said the priority now is the new bridge planned for the south side of Detroit to connect with Windsor. But he offered hope to motorists and truck drivers idling on the Blue Water Bridge.