Toll Bridge Facts.com

Welcome to Toll Bridge Facts.com!

The Toll Bridge Facts.com web site (blog) is an initiative of the Grosse Ile Bridge Company (GIBC) to directly provide Island residents, businesses and visitors with important information concerning the Grosse Ile Toll Bridge.  This web site is integrated into the GIBC's main web site which can be viewed at www.GrosseIleBridge.com.

Toll Bridge Facts.com enables the GIBC to keep you better informed about breaking news and developments concerning the bridge. The site also provides residents and customers with an interactive capability that features answers to frequently asked questions and a forum for posting opinions.  We especially encourage you to sign up for the GIBC's e-newsletter "The Connection" that provides important traffic advisories as well as the most accurate and timely information about the Toll Bridge.

If you want the latest updates on traffic conditions, please sign up to follow the GIBC's messages ("tweets") on Twitter.

 
http://detnews.com/article/20091111/METRO05/911110411

November 11, 2009

Grosse Ile's free bridge to fully open Friday

THE DETROIT NEWS

Grosse Ile -- After being partially closed since Monday, the free Grosse Ile Bridge will be fully opened again on Friday afternoon.

Wayne County has been closing the bridge from 8:30 a.m. until 3:30 p.m. every day this week for sidewalk repairs. The bridge will be closed for that same time period today, Thursday and Friday.

The bridge is open for traffic before 8:30 a.m. and after 3:30 p.m., according to the Wayne County Department of Public Services. During the closures, traffic will be diverted to the Grosse Ile toll bridge north of the free bridge.

The Grosse Ile Bridge Co. will collect the tolls during those days from traffic traveling on and off the island. The toll for automobiles, pickup trucks, SUV, vans and motorcycles is $1.50 each direction for those with a bridge pass, $1.80 for drivers with tokens and a $2 cash fare for others.

GIBC SPECIAL TRAFFIC ADVISORY for November 9 through November 13

Wayne County Bridge closed daily, 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., for maintenance November 9 through November 13

[Posted November 6]  Wayne County has informed Grosse Ile Township and the GIBC that the Wayne County Bridge will be closed for planned maintenance daily, between 8:30 a.m. and 3:30 pm., starting on Monday, November 9, through Friday, November 13.

The GIBC will collect the user fee toll fare from traffic traveling on and off the Island -- the normal procedure -- throughout the County Bridge closure period.

Thanks to the majority of Islanders using the GIBC's Bridge Pass, traffic delays have been minimal during the most recent closures of the County Bridge.  The GIBC recommends, however, that motorists always allow extra time for crossing the Toll Bridge during a County Bridge closure period.
 
Please note that the GIBC will not allow oversized loads to cross the Toll Bridge during the County Bridge closure period.  To view a summary of the GIBC's regular load limits and restrictions on the Toll Bridge, please CLICK HERE.

Toll Bridge Facts.com Top Stories

Grosse Ile's free bridge to fully open Friday  (Detroit News, November 12, 2009)

GIBC, architect receive beautification awards  (Ile Camera, October 23, 2009)

Township offers $900,000 for GIBC lawsuit payment  (Ile Camera, October 16, 2009)

Township will appeal $1.4 million verdict  (Ile Camera, April 3, 2009)

GIBC Increases Toll for Class 1, 2 Vehicles  (Ile Camera, January 30, 2009)

Traffic Flows Smoothly, No Major Delays During First Day of Weekend Closure (January 24-25, 2009) of the Wayne County Bridge (Toll Bridge Facts.com, January 24, 2009)

GIBC Announces Toll Fare Increase for Class 1 and 2 Vehicles that Takes Effect February 2  (Toll Bridge Facts.com, January 23, 2009)

Grosse Ile Toll Bridge 95th Anniversary  (Toll Bridge Facts.com, November 27, 2008)

Grosse Ile Free Bridge to Close this Weekend  (Detroit Free Press, November 20, 2008)

Somewhat Smooth Sailing  (Ile Camera, November 14, 2008)

Traffic Flowed Smoothly, No Major Delays  (Toll Bridge Facts.com, November 11, 2008)

County Bridge to close this weekend  (Ile Camera, November 7, 2008)

 

GIBC, architect receive beautification awards

Published: Friday, October 23, 2009

Courtesy of Keep Michigan Beautiful

The Grosse Ile Bridge Co. recently won an award at the Keep Michigan Beautiful 2009 Awards Program for its landscaping project along Bridge Road and Meridian at the northern entrance to the island.

The project was one of 36 across the state that the KMB recognized.

The GIBC’s landscaping project was designed and built by Grosse Ile resident Doug Henry, president of Grosse Ile-based Foliage Concepts. Henry developed the landscaping plan in consultation with GIBC owner and President Paul Smoke.

The GIBC decided to beautify the half-acre perimeter of the property and enhance road safety by replacing dead trees, undesirable brush and leaning trees with attractive landscaping and plantings that blend with the woodlands and wetlands in the area.

The landscaping project was started in the fall of 2007 and completed by the summer of 2008. It includes natural decorative boulders and earthen berms featuring 13 species of trees, six species of shrubs and six species of flowers designed to provide year-round color.

Also at the ceremony, Grosse Ile resident John Wilkie, principal in Wilkie & Zanley Architects was the architect or a winning project and received an award.

Islander Jack Frucci is the KMB president and his wife, Pamela, is a member of the KMB executive committee.  The ceremony was held last Friday at the Comfort Inn and Conference Center in Mount Pleasant and more than 100 people attended.

Founded in 1962, Keep Michigan Beautiful Inc. is a nonprofit, educational organization dedicated to promoting beautification and restoration projects across the state.

KMB comprises volunteers —men, women and youth —who work on a wide variety of projects intended to carry out KMB’s objectives.

 
  
Township offers $900,000 for GIBC lawsuit payment

Published: Friday, October 16, 2009 
By Lena Khzouz Magyar

The township will offer $900,000 to the Grosse Ile Bridge Co. as partial payment for attorney fees involving a toll bridge lawsuit.

The partial payment is being made on the anticipated costs of settling a dispute over legal fees resulting from the township’s loss in the GIBC condemnation case, which began in 2003.

After a closed executive session, held from 7 to about 8:45 p.m. during a regularly scheduled township board meeting, the trustees unanimously approved the partial payment during the open meeting.

Township Supervisor Brian Loftus said the township would continue to appeal the assessment in the toll bridge case unless the GIBC accepts the $900,000 as full payment.

“We’re hoping that will serve to settle the lawsuit,” Loftus said.

The money would be borrowed from the township’s Open Space acquisition fund and repaid from the general fund with 2 percent interest over a 10-year period.

“We have idle funds in the Open Space acquisition account … that we don’t plan on accessing anytime soon,” Loftus said.

He said that is allowed as long as the money is paid back to the original account with interest. The plan is to pay $100,000 per year back to the Open Space acquisition account, he said.

The original lawsuit began in 2003 when the township tried to take the toll bridge from the GIBC through eminent domain.

The toll bridge at the northern end of the island has been owned by the Smoke family for generations.

The only other road to the island is the Wayne County-owned free bridge. closer to the southern end of the island.

When trying to take the bridge, township leaders had said that they wanted control of the bridge for the safety of the island’s residents, being that the toll bridge is one of the only two access points to Grosse Ile.

That part of the suit was in court for several years, with the ultimate ruling in the bridge company’s favor.

Wayne County Circuit Judge Susan Borman ruled this year that the township owed the GIBC nearly $1.4 million for attorney fees, but the township is appealing that ruling.

State law provides for interest payments in appealed attorney’s fees after a judgment has been rendered.

As a result, since March 6, the township has been potentially liable for interest accruing on the debt of nearly $1.4 million at a rate of 5 percent per year, or about $70,000 annually. Paying the $900,000 would help lower the amount of interest, officials said.

The normal timeframe for such an appeal is about 18 months, so the township is expecting a verdict from the appeals court in about a year, although it could come sooner or later, Loftus said.

Greg Karmazin, GIBC spokesman, said their attorneys are aware of the township's action and will make a decision.

 

Ile Camera

April 3, 2009

 

   

http://www.ilecamera.com/stories/013009/loc_20090130004.shtml

GIBC increases toll for Class 1, 2 vehicles

PUBLISHED: January 30, 2009

The Grosse Ile Bridge Co. is raising the user fee toll fares for automobiles, pickup trucks, sport utility vehicles, vans and motorcycles.

The toll fares for these Class 1 and 2 vehicles were last raised five years ago. The cost currently is $1.50 each way for Class 1 vehicles.

The fares for Class 3, 4, 5 and 6 vehicles, which include semis, heavy trucks, buses, delivery vans and campers, will not change.

The new one-way toll fares for Class 1 and Class 2 vehicles will become effective Monday.

For Class 1 vehicles, a bridge pass would be $1.50 and tokens would be $1.80 (25 one-way crossings for a $45 roll of tokens). The cash price is $2, and credit card charges will be $3.

Class 2 vehicles, which are Class 1 vehicles pulling a trailer, cannot use tokens or bridge passes. The cash price will be $4, and credit charges will be $5.

"I know these are very difficult economic times for many Grosse Ile residents and businesses," said Paul Smoke, owner and president.

"Although I have been reluctant to increase the toll fares, I am compelled to do so to ensure that the GIBC has the long-term financial resources to properly operate and maintain the toll bridge."

According to the GIBC, five main factors contributed to the decision to increase the fares.

First, revenues have declined, and operational costs have increased. The toll fares for Class 1 and 2 vehicles were last raised five years ago. Vehicle crossings have dropped, yet maintenance expenses are higher.

Second, state and local government actions have increased operational expenses, according to the owner. This includes an increase in costs related to the Michigan Business Tax, an increase in tax payments to the township and legal fees related to such things as the township's unsuccessful eminent domain lawsuit against the company.

Third, the GIBC spent millions in preparation for the Wayne County free bridge closure in 2007. Those costs have not been fully recouped.

Also, according to GIBC representatives, the company must build financial reserves to pay for future maintenance, noting that the county bridge closure caused much greater wear and tear on the structure than normal.

Finally, the toll fare increases have not kept pace with inflation or growth in the GIBC's actual costs, according to the company.

"Members of my family built the toll bridge and have faithfully maintained it for the benefit of island residents, businesses and visitors for 95 years," Smoke said.

"I have owned and run the GIBC for more than a quarter of a century. We have done everything prudent to keep the toll fare reasonable over the years."

He added that he has invested more than $10 million in major maintenance and upgrades for the bridge in the last 26 years.

The GIBC has taken many steps to tighten its belt and reduce operational expenses that can be cut, but will not compromise on maintenance, Smoke said.

The bridge today is more reliable, safer, and operates better than the day it opened in 1913, he said.

"During my 26-year tenure as owner and president of the GIBC, I've improved, rebuilt or replaced all of the core components of the span," Smoke said.

"This new toll fare increase is essential for us to guarantee that the toll bridge will remain in great condition when it turns 100 years old in 2013, s well as be a safe and reliable route for future generations of islanders."

Traffic Flows Smoothly, No Major Delays During First Day of Weekend Closure (January 24-25, 2009) of the Wayne County Bridge

Bridge Pass Customers Breeze Through the Toll Plaza

[Posted January 29, 2009] Despite the fact that Grosse Ile High School hosted a regional cheerleading competition that brought to the Island approximately 50 school buses (which the GIBC did not charge a toll fare) and several hundred passenger vehicles carrying approximately 1,500 spectators from mainland communities, traffic delays were minimal on the first day of the weekend County Bridge closure period.

 

Drivers using the Bridge Pass typically traveled through the Bridge Pass Lane (i.e., outside lane) of the toll plaza at least twice as fast as vehicles in the Attended Lane paying with cash or tokens as shown in this short web video: 

GIBC Announces Toll Fare Increase for Class 1 and 2 Vehicles that Takes Effect February 2

New Rates Necessary to Ensure the Toll Bridge Stays in Excellent Condition

 

[Posted January 23, 2009]  The GIBC is raising the user fee toll fares for Class 1 and 2 Vehicles which include automobiles, pickup trucks, SUVs, vans and motorcycles.  The toll fares for Class 1 and 2 Vehicles were last raised 5 years ago.

The toll fares for Class 3, 4, 5 and 6 Vehicles which include semis, heavy trucks, buses, delivery vans and campers will remain unchanged. 

Effective Monday, February 2, 2009, the new one-way toll fares for Class 1 and 2 Vehicles will be as follows:

Class 1 Vehicles (i.e., an automobile, pickup truck, SUV, van or motorcycle) 
Bridge Pass:  $1.50 
Tokens:  $1.80 (25 one-way crossings for a $45 roll of tokens)
Cash Price:  $2.00
Credit Card:  $3.00

Class 2 Vehicles (i.e., a Class 1 Vehicle pulling a trailer) 
Bridge Pass:  Bridge Pass cannot be used by a Class 2 Vehicle
Tokens:  Tokens cannot be used by a Class 2 Vehicle
Cash Price:  $4.00
Credit Card:  $5.00

GIBC Owner and President Paul Smoke said, "I know these are very difficult economic times for many Grosse Ile residents and businesses.  Although I have been reluctant to increase the toll fares, I am compelled to do so to ensure that the GIBC has the long-term financial resources to properly operate and maintain the Toll Bridge."