Gordie Howe International Bridge Links Detroit to Windsor
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DETROIT — The U.S. and Canadian sides of the Gordie Howe International Bridge have been connected, marking the bridge as an official border crossing; completion is set for fall 2025, project officials said July 24.
The bridge, which spans over the Detroit River, is in southwest Detroit and southwest Windsor. The bridge connects Detroit to Windsor, another addition to one of the busiest commercial points on the U.S.-Canada border, where 33% of trade between the two countries occurs, according to officials at a news conference on the bridge deck in Windsor.
Sean Fraser, the Canadian minister of Housing, Infrastructure and Communities, said the connection of the bridge is expected to boost economic growth between the two countries and improve transportation.
“This project is so much more than a bridge,” Fraser said. “To me, it represents the connection between Canada and the United States, our largest trading partner and our strongest ally. The impact (the project) is going to have on our country is going to be felt for a generation. We’re looking at opportunities to grow our economies by eliminating the bottlenecks to international trade, not just our largest trading partner, but this border crossing represents one-third of the trade that takes place between our countries.”
Marriages are sealed by rings, but there's no stronger sign of an international bond than a bridge. The Gordie Howe Bridge is a huge milestone made possible by workers on both sides of the border who threw on their hard hats, laced up their steel-toed boots, and got the job done. pic.twitter.com/JLJuuoyman — Governor Gretchen Whitmer (@GovWhitmer) July 24, 2024
The $5.7 billion project saw about 2,000 workers on the site each day, representing more than 13 million worker hours. Now that the deck is connected, work now focuses on completing the project.
“Making connections is what the Gordie Howe International bridge is all about,” said Charl van Niekerk, CEO of the Windsor-Detroit Bridge Authority. “While we celebrate the physical deck connection today, it gives us the opportunity to look to the near future, when we will see truck drivers make their way to deliver their freight, commuters head to work and tourists enjoying this bond.”
The bridge deck took six years to build, and at 150 feet above the Detroit River and 720 feet high, it will be the largest Canadian and United States land port along the U.S.-Canada border and among the top 10 longest bridges in North America. Construction now turns to the bridge surface, including paving lanes, adding guardrails and installation of electrical systems. Local road improvements, including construction on the Interstate 75 interchange ramps and service drives, are expected to be completed around the same time that the bridge is.
Today, the Honourable @SeanFraserMP, Canada’s Minister of Housing, Infrastructure and Communities and many others celebrated the bridge deck connection on the #GordieHoweBridge. The celebration recognized the bridge as an official border crossing and acknowledged years of pic.twitter.com/uJk3ngPeJO — Gordie Howe International Bridge (@GordieHoweBrg) July 24, 2024
“This is going to enable the trucks to be able to cross much faster than they would’ve been able to before with less congestion and easier access,” said David Cohen, the United States ambassador to Canada. “This is the largest crossing between Canada and the United States, the largest crossing in terms of number of trucks, pedestrians, tourists. This is one-third of our trade relationship, and also the largest trading relationship in the world. This one bridge is going to be responsible for one-third of the largest trading relationship in the world ... the impact is almost unthinkable.”
The bridge will have six lanes and a dedicated path for pedestrians and cyclists. Including the ports of entry and two approach bridges on each side that connect to the main span, the bridge will measure 1.5 miles, making it the longest cable-stayed bridge in North America, officials said.
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