TORONTO — The rumored demise of a project to build a second crossing at the Windsor-Detroit Gateway is "greatly exaggerated" proclaimed the Ontario Trucking Association.

A bill approving the so-called Detroit River International Crossing project was halted this week by the state Legislature, but that doesn’t mean the project is dead, OTA told members.

Although the DRIC bill was passed by the Democratic House in May, the Republican-controlled Senate has been putting off a vote on the bill all summer long.

Before adjourning for the November 2 gubernatorial election, however, House and Senate lawmakers compromised to keep DRIC alive, albeit on a short leash, by limiting spending on the project to $750,000 through the end of May.

The Legislature also prohibited the Michigan Dept. of Transport from entering into any new DRIC contracts until the enabling DRIC legislation is passed.

Most observers don’t think the DRIC bill as it’s written will be taken up again this year, but the OTA is somewhat optimistic that a revised version could be introduced which addresses the concerns of opposing Republicans.

After Nov. 2, the current Michigan legislature reconvenes for a lame-duck session, at which time there’s a chance a new DRIC bill could be approved.

"While there is still a lot of work to do, a majority of business and public interest groups on both sides of the border support DRIC and there are still many reasons to remain optimistic that a deal can be done before the end of the year," said OTA president David Bradley.

Bradley says the chairman of the senate transportation committee remains committed to introducing a new bill that would give DRIC the green light; and the senate majority leader has committed to Canada’s transport minister that there will be an up and down vote on DRIC in the Senate.

"There is no more important piece of legislation in Michigan than the DRIC bill for consideration during the lame-duck period," said Bradley, adding that it’s also wise not to underestimate "the ongoing opposition from a vociferous few, or the political wild cards that could come into play."

"What is right will I believe prevail in the end," he said.