Toll Bridge Facts.com

Overview of the GIBC's Landscaping Plan on the GIBC's Property Along Bridge Road and Meridian

*  Including the optional plantings, the plan recommends the planting of a total of 88 trees, 141 shrubs and 82 flowers.

*  The plan includes 13 species of trees, 6 species of shrubs and 6 species of flowers.

To view the site plan for the GIBC's landscaping that was submitted on November 7th to Grosse Ile Township for review, please CLICK HERE.

List of Trees, Shrubs and Flowers in the GIBC's Landscaping Plan
As of November 10, 2007

Trees

Dogwood
Dwarf Lilac 
Flowering Crab 
Locust
Norway Spruce
October Glory Red Maple
Red Bud
Red Oak
River's Birch
Sargent Crab
Spruce 
Sweet Gum
White Pine

Shrubs

Amelanchier
Burning Bush
Quince
Sea Green Juniper
Spirea
Viburnum

Flowers

Blackeyed Susan
Daylily
Hydrangea
Knockout Rose
Tulips
Wild flowers

GIBC Pier Protection Enhancement Project is Successful

Four Day Project on One Pier Costs GIBC More Than $40,000

The GIBC obtained permits from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ) to add rip-rap and other protective materials near the bottom of one of the piers in the middle of the Toll Bridge. The MDEQ directed GIBC to delay this work until mid-August which is the end of the nesting season for Common Terns (a threatened species of birds that nest on the Toll Bridge's north and south protection piers).

GIBC's contractor expects to complete the rip-rap project by August 31.  Vehicle traffic flow across the Toll Bridge and marine vessels passing through the span have not been affected by this project.

Over the years the GIBC has spent significant amounts of money to maintain and enhance the protection for the piers which are critically important to the structural integrity of all bridges.  The Toll Bridge's piers are regularly inspected -- top to bottom underwater observation (video recorded) and testing of the piers by helmeted divers are key components of the GIBC's inspection process.   

The Toll Bridge's piers are armor reinforced with steel plates from the river bed to above the water line.  The piers are extremely stable and strong as they were built into the bedrock in the river bottom.

The four day pier protection enhancement project completed by a Michigan-based contractor cost the GIBC more than $40,000.  The GIBC pays 100% of the cost to maintain and operate the Toll Bridge with the user fee toll fare.  No taxpayers' funds have ever been used to maintain or operate the Toll Bridge.  The GIBC pays $58,000 a year in taxes to Grosse Ile Township and also annually pays the same amount of taxes to the City of Riverview.

Since GIBC President and Owner Paul Smoke took charge of the company in 1982, the company has invested over $10 million on maintaining and improving the Toll Bridge. GIBC's long-term capital improvement plan is designed to ensure that the life of the Toll Bridge is virtually unlimited.

PARTIAL LIST OF MAJOR MAINTENANCE AND IMPROVEMENTS MADE TO THE TOLL BRIDGE BY THE GIBC FROM 1982 UNTIL 2007

* The Toll Bridge is in excellent condition and no major maintenance needs to be performed during the Wayne County Bridge closure period.

  > Since Paul Smoke took over as President of the GIBC in 1982, the  company has spent more than $10 million (100% private funding) on upgrades and  major maintenance.  No taxpayers money has ever been used to maintain the Toll Bridge.

  > The user fee toll fare is the only source of funding for keeping the Toll Bridge in outstanding condition.

  The bridge deck on the swing span was replaced and upgraded during 1985.

  The support piers were reinforced and strengthened during the 1990s.

  Swing span (i.e., the center section of the bridge) bearings and gears were replaced in 1994.   These components have a design life of 50 years based on 2,000 swings per year (there were less  than 700 swings in 2005 and even a lower number during 2006).

  A new motor and controls were installed on the swing arm during 1998.

  The "pony truss" section of the bridge was completely rebuilt during 2002.

  The four lane toll plaza was designed in the early 2000's, approved by the City of Riverview in  2001 and built during  2004 on the mainland side of Bridge  Rd. The plaza features state-of-the-art  hardware and software to operate the Bridge Pass which was installed in May of 2005.  This system  essentially uses the same hardware and software utilized by the University of Michigan (on all its  campuses), the Renaissance Center and Ford Field for parking lots and garages.

  The center pier was encased in steel and enlarged with solid fill during 2004.

  All electrical components were replaced in 2004.

  The road deck was replaced with new steel support beams (40 steel support beams were replaced)  and a concrete surface during 2004.  New guardrails were installed on the causeway section of  Bridge Rd.

  New LED traffic lights were installed during 2006.

  Painting touch up work on the superstructure was completed in November of 2006.

  The west bound lane (the Bridge Pass express lane) of Bridge Rd. was widened from the Toll  Bridge to the toll plaza in November  2006. 

Awards for Excellence on Maintenance Projects During the 1980s and 1990s

Counsulting Engineers Council of Michigan (1986)

http://www.acec-mi.org/default.asp?id=3

American Consulting Engineers Council (1995)

http://www.acec.org/

American Society of Civil Engineers (1995)

http://www.asce.org/asce.cfm

Engineering Society of Detroit (1995)

http://ww2.esd.org/home.htm

Swing Mechanism Project in 1994

Download 1994_swing_mechanism_replacement_project.pdf

Pony Truss Replacement Project in 2002