They’ve been talking about this for some time. It’s been sheer lunacy, as proponents of the bridge have assured us that its construction will bring millions of new jobs, zillions in revenue, cure cancer, and fulfill the prophesies.

In reality, their main goal seems to be bankrupting the current bridge’s owner, Matty Maroun (who is, uncontestedly, a real dick). The Detroit/Windsor span is the only privately held bridge in the US; a fact that infuriates liberal Democrats to no end. Thus, they MUST construct a second bridge downriver, with the purpose of sending Maroun into bankruptcy.

I’m skeptical the bridge brings much added good at all, short of alleviating some traffic congestation. If fixing economies was as simple as building bridges, we could just spend the next thousand years backfilling Lake St. Clair. However, the real selling point of this bridge was that Canada was willing to pay for Michigan’s half of its construction, while still giving Michigan an equal say in construction and a half share of all toll revenue.

Um, okay…?

Leaders from both sides of the U.S.-Canada border today announced “a visionary project” to build a second bridge between Detroit and Windsor.

“This is quite a large project, even for countries as big as the United States and Canada,” said Canadian prime minister Stephen Harper in Windsor in the first of two appearances today to announce the deal. “It’s an investment in the future … of the North American economy,” and “a celebration of the deep friendship that exists between Canada and the United States.”

“This is a glorious day. It’s a magnificent day.”

U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood called the project “a particularly big deal for people who want to go to work…for people who need a job.”

Gov. Rick Snyder thanked the Canadians for fronting Michigan its $550 million share of the project costs.

“This is more than a traditional partnership,” said Snyder.

Read more here.