Grosse Ile residents to vote on controversial proposal to buy $59M toll bridge

Grosse Ile living has its perks — lush surroundings, privacy and lake views, but it comes with a price.

And Grosse Ile residents, who say they already pay too much in taxes, are balking at a proposal that they argue will make them pay even more.

In November, residents will vote on a $59 million plan to buy the private toll bridge connecting the island to the mainland Downriver, a hotly contested measure that has residents and the township bitterly divided. It is unclear whether the bridge would continue to charge a toll if approved by voters.

Proponents say the township needs to buy the bridge to provide an alternative to the Wayne County bridge, which is in need of significant structural repairs that will force closures in the near future. Additionally, buying the toll bridge would allow the township government to set the price of the tolls, which they say could keep costs lower for residents.

Critics say it's nonsense.

"This is not a time to put something like this on a ballot and vote in November," said Frank Gerner of Grosse Ile in a Township Board of Trustees meeting . "I know we're a small community and I love our community ... but there's so many things that aren't being looked at."

There are two bridges connecting the 18.3-square-mile island to the mainland Downriver. The first is the Wayne County Bridge, also known as the free bridge, which is owned by Wayne County. The second is the Grosse Ile Toll Bridge, which is privately owned by Paul Smoke and is up for sale. It was built by Smoke's grandfather in 1912. The Grosse Ile Toll Bridge Co. charges a fee ranging from $3 to $4.50 each way for two-axle vehicles to cross that bridge.

Smoke couldn't be reached for immediate comment.

Lifeline to island

The free bridge still needs a ton of repairs. In 2020, a Free Press investigation found that Michigan jurisdictions struggled to keep pace with aging bridges due to lack of revenue and rising costs.

This resulted in the Wayne County-owned Grosse Ile Parkway bridge abruptly closing for unexpected repairs. Turns out, the free bridge was no longer safe to drive on.

Since then, bridge crossers have resumed normal activity and even received $20 million in state funding for critical repairs in 2023.

With about 17,000 vehicles crossing the free bridge daily, the township board informed residents of a possible alternative, buy the private bridge owned by the Smoke family .

The Grosse Ile Toll Bridge Bond Proposal , would cost the average resident 1.6745 mills or $1.67 per $1,000 of taxable value. The average home in Grosse Ile, according to Rocket Homes is around $385,000, which leaves the average homeowner paying an additional $116 in property taxes if voters decide to vote yes to the proposal in November.

The township argues the proposed levy will not increase Grosse Ile Township millage totals above rates experienced in 2023. That the current millage rate will not increase because a previous sewer bond payoff will offset the costs.

The new bridge will cost up to $59 million.

Voters will decide in November

The proposal was approved in a 7-0 vote by the township board to put on the November ballot. Trustees Carl Bloetscher, Kyle de Beausset, Ute O'Connor, Jamison Yager, Joe Porcarelli, James Bundy and David Nadeau all voted to pass the resolution.

The township board says putting the decision into the hands of the voters allows residents to decide if they want it or not.

Jalen Williams is a reporting intern at the Detroit Free Press. Contact him at jawilliams1@freepress.com.

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Grosse Ile residents to vote on controversial proposal to buy $59M toll bridge