MACKINAC ISLAND — Leaders of Michigan’s Republican Party say they want to move forward in October with a much-debated proposal to build a second bridge between the U.S. and Canada in Detroit.

The bridge would be publicly owned and Republicans said it would benefit businesses and connect major highways leading to more exports to Canada at their party’s conference over the weekend. 

Opponents of the second bridge, including Ambassador Bridge owner Manuel “Matty” Maroun, have said that jobs would be lost around the current bridge if a new public bridge is built. 

Ambassador Bridge owners have financed a multimillion dollar ad campaign against the new bridge and attended the Michigan Republican Party Conference on Mackinac Island over the weekend to try to sway lawmakers to oppose the bridge as well.

Some Republicans also have objected, saying they want a second bridge to be built by a private company.