LANSING, Mich. — State Sen. Ed McBroom, R-Waucedah Township, and several members of the Senate Republican caucus on Wednesday will release a letter — signed by all 18 Senate Republicans — urging the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the state of Michigan to expedite their permitting processes so thousands of Michigan union workers can finally begin construction of the Great Lakes Tunnel Project for Line 5 under the straits of Mackinac, ensuring energy affordability and stability in the state.
Who:
Sen. Ed McBroom, R-Waucedah Township.
Senate Republican Leader Aric Nesbitt, R-Porter Township.
Sen. John Damoose, R-Harbor Springs.
Sen. Joseph Bellino, R-Monroe.
Other members of the Senate Republican caucus.
When:
Wednesday, Oct. 18, at 9:30 a.m.
Where:
Michigan Capitol Building
Leader Nesbitt’s office
S-105
100 N. Capitol Ave.
Lansing
Brief:
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is unreasonably delaying the permitting process for the Great Lakes Tunnel Project for Line 5 under the Straits of Mackinac, which was approved with bipartisan support in 2018.
Construction on the critical project was originally scheduled to begin in 2021, and the tunnel was expected to be operational by 2024. Now, due in large part to the ongoing delay in permitting, the project has been set back several years. Most recently, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers indicated a decision is not expected until 2026.
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