GROSSE ILE TOWNSHIP, Mich. – It’s been one week since the Grosse Ile Parkway Bridge closed for construction, causing a ripple effect of traffic jams and fed-up residents.
That means there is only one way on and off the island, the Grosse Ile Toll Bridge, which the township purchased after voters approved a special millage in November.
“When school lets out and the 9-to-5 people come, it’s an hour and a half to two hours,” said one driver in line.
“We have to put up with it for Wayne County to fix the bridge,” said another driver.
“This bridge closure is costing my family at least $126 a week just to go to work and school,” said one resident.
So, Local 4 tested it out. We got in line around noon on Jefferson Avenue and then turned onto Bridge Road before paying at the toll.
In total, it took us about 30 minutes to cross the bridge and walk less than a mile.
The other frustration is the cost; round trip is $7 cash, $8 with a credit card, or $6 if you purchase a bridge pass.
For example, if someone uses the toll bridge every day for eight weeks, it would cost them about $400 in cash or $336 if they use a pass.
Also, overweight vehicles can only go over one at a time. To do that, workers block traffic at both ends of the bridge.
“Oh, the toll bridge is a nightmare,” said Terry Gincott, a Grosse Ile resident.
Local 4 ran into Gincott on Thursday (May 8) as he was picking up his bridge pass from the Township office.
“I’m retired and I’m on a fixed income. So, it’s definitely eating into my budget,” he said.
So we took residents’ concerns to the Grosse Ile Township Supervisor Joe Porcarelli.
“We have changed things. It’s not perfect. Absolutely not. It’s frustrating to us that we don‘t have a magic bullet to get you on and off,” Gincott said.
Since last week, the Township has increased traffic control with help from Riverview Police and soon the Wayne County Sheriff’s Office. Grosse Ile officers are also working overtime to help.
Porcarelli said the township plans to do traffic counts to determine the busiest and slowest times along with web cameras to give real-time updates.
“It’s a funnel theory. You can only put so many cars through a two-lane bridge,” Porcarelli said.
However, many residents and commuters are pointing the finger at Wayne County, saying officials have not properly maintained the Parkway Bridge, which has led to frequent closures.
“I’m not going to play the blame game. Wayne County has to do repairs to the bridge, and I’m not going to get into the past or how they did it. It’s a brand-new regime that we deal with in Wayne County. They have been gracious and wonderful to work with,” Porcarelli said. “What’s happening is Wayne County needs to do repairs. When they do the repairs, we have one way one and one way off. That’s all I can tell you. I can‘t play the blame game.”
The closure is expected to be in place for eight weeks, but this timeframe depends on weather conditions and any other delays that crews may encounter.
