TORONTO -- The Canadian Vehicle Manufacturers Association is one of many industry groups calling for continued support of the Detroit River International Crossing project.

The CVMA urged legislators and governments on both sides of the Canada-United States border to proceed with securing the new international crossing at the Windsor-Detroit gateway without delay.

DRIC is in danger of getting its funding cut in Michigan. Legislators have until June 1 to decide whether to pass a bill permitting a private-public partnership to build the new bridge.

There was speculation the bill would be brought to the floor in the Michigan state capital for a vote this week, but, perhaps fearing that they didn't have enough votes, sponsors of the bill postponed the vote.

Anticipating that opposing forces on the other side of the border could scuttle the project, the government of Canada recently offered to pay Michigan's half of the $500 million bridge and then recoup the cash through tolls once the bridge is built.

In a press release, CVMA and its member companies applauded Ottawa's offer.

"The association is hopeful that the additional support offered by the Government of Canada towards this additional crossing will help eliminate the remaining hurdles towards moving this infrastructure investment forward and along with it, the plan to improve international trade and commerce through this region."