Local radio guy joins International Bridge board

NEWS RELEASE

INTERNATIONAL BRIDGE ADMINISTRATION

***************************** Sault Ste. Marie man joins International Bridge board

Brian Davie of Sault Ste. Marie is the latest member appointed to the Sault Ste. Marie Bridge Authority (SSMBA), becoming the third Michigan representative on the board.

Davie was appointed by Michigan Gov. Jennifer Granholm to serve on the authority board, which oversees operation of the Sault Ste. Marie International Bridge.

A radio broadcaster in the Soo area for 101.3 WSUE-FM, Davie also is the former executive director of the Red Cross in the eastern Upper Peninsula.

"With my media experience, I hope to promote and encourage development of the services offered by the International Bridge," Davie said. "I understand the importance of this international crossing to the local communities, and I look forward to being a partner with the bridge authority."

One vacancy on the board remains, due to the recent resignation of Michigan member Janis Burgess.

Her replacement will be appointed by Gov. Granholm.

The International Bridge board, which was recently expanded from six to eight members and renamed the SSMBA, was formerly known as the Joint International Bridge Authority (JIBA).

The new operations organization was created in September 2009 with the establishment of a new intergovernmental agreement between the bridge's two owners: the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) on the U.S. side, and the Federal Bridge Corp. Ltd. (FBCL) on the Canadian side.

The operation and maintenance of the Sault Ste. Marie International Bridge is totally self-funded, based primarily on toll revenue, with no operational funding subsidy from state, provincial, or federal government sources.

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