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The Houghton County Commission approved a number of administrative items during their meeting last night. Approving accounts payable and paying the bills was at the top of the list. As well as approving union contracts with the county employees and the county airport. The county also plans to purchase five new cruisers for the sheriff department.
Commissioner Tikkanen Added a thirteenth item to the agenda as well. The county will also begin discussions and determine best options when petitioning the state for a new bridge installment over the portage canal.
In the most recent infrastructure bill signed in Washington, the state of Michigan is slated to receive around 10 billion dollars. Houghton County hopes to petition the state for funds to construct a new bridge, as the county hopes to continue a steady population growth with the assistance of a thriving economy attractive to new residents.
A new bridge would certainly make traffic flow better between the island half of the peninsula and the mainland of the UP. But until discussions start and pen is put to paper, the county will only dream of a new span across the Keweenaw Waterway. The biggest questions will be, how much would a new development cost the county and taxpayers? As well as where along the canal would provide suitable space for both traffic and construction.
