Detroit City Wire

State Representative Rylee Linting testified before the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor and Economic Opportunity on Thursday, advocating for budget allocations aimed at infrastructure improvements in the Downriver area. The requests focus on two key projects: a new bridge on West Road in Trenton and funding for the Grosse Ile County Bridge.

“Workers and families I talk with throughout our communities want reliable local roads and bridges that they use every single day,” said Linting, of Grosse Ile Township, when speaking before the committee. “These are pivotal investments that are sorely needed, and I am going to continue fighting for them as we go through the budget process.”

Linting is seeking $10 million to allow Wayne County to start construction of a new bridge on West Road in Trenton. The current structure has deteriorated, leading to lane closures and raising concerns about traffic congestion and safety for both motorists and emergency responders.

In addition, she has requested $3 million for the Grosse Ile County Bridge. This bridge is one of only two connecting Grosse Ile Township to mainland Michigan and serves as the only toll-free option for residents. According to Wayne County’s findings, after years of recurring closures due to repairs or safety issues, a full replacement is necessary.

“The county-maintained bridge is important to residents and their own budgets because the other bridge is a toll bridge, so this is people’s only cost-free way on and off Grosse Ile,” Linting said. “It’s also important to maintain these bridges so there is always one available for reliable transportation if the other is undergoing maintenance. Workers, families and our local economy would be in dire straits without this continued infrastructural existence, and this funding will help cover the costs of planning, getting permits and moving toward shovels in the ground for the replacement.”

Wayne County Deputy Executive Andrew Kandrevas and Department of Public Services Director Dayo Akinyemi also provided testimony alongside Linting.

Earlier in the week, lawmakers heard about another request from Linting: $5.89 million for the Downriver Career Technical Consortium (DCTC). This program serves nine school districts across Downriver by offering over two dozen career technical education courses designed to prepare students for jobs in skilled trades. The proposed funding would support completion of a new DCTC center and provide three years of operating expenses. Many current facilities used by DCTC are outdated or inadequate; without a central location, school districts face increased transportation costs that strain budgets further.

Linting represents Grosse Ile Township and Trenton within Michigan's 27th House District in Wayne County.