Local drivers and travelers will soon see smoother crossings at the Blue Water Bridge thanks to a major upgrade now moving forward. The Michigan Department of Transportation will break ground Thursday on the second phase of the three-hundred-million-dollar plaza expansion at the bridge annex. This part of the project reconfigures the southern plaza by moving toll operations, adding a new U.S. Customs inspection facility, relocating Duty Free Americas, and more. Officials say the on-site work will not disrupt traffic, with completion expected in 5 years.

Reporting for WGRT – JP bZet

A major half-billion-dollar industrial project is set to transform St. Clair County starting this September, when construction begins on the first 250-thousand-square-foot manufacturing facility in Port Huron Township. Developer Interstate Capital plans future sites in Marysville and Kimball Township, complete with new utilities and a two-mile access road along I-94, to capitalize on the Blue Water Bridge and rail tunnel for cross-border trade. Officials say the developments will host only manufacturing companies offering jobs paying more than twenty dollars an hour.

Reporting for WGRT – JP bZet

Construction has started on a new splashpad at Germain Park, bringing 14 exciting water features to give families a fun way to cool off this summer and beyond. The $535,000 project, part of the park’s bigger revitalization plan, is funded by federal, provincial, and city dollars along with a $100,000 gift from the Rotary Club of Sarnia-Bluewaterland. Once finished, the splashpad will offer a safe, refreshing spot for children of all ages right in the heart of the city’s 60-acre park.

Reporting for WGRT – JP bZet