Following its official groundbreaking back in July, the much-anticipated Gordie Howe International Bridge that will form a third link from Windsor to Detroit, has reached a major milestone. Late last month, the Windsor-Detroit Bridge Authority (WDBA) signed the final $5.7 billion project agreement with Bridging North America thereby making them their official private-sector partner. 

Gordie Howe International Bridge, concept art, image via the Windsor-Detroit Bridge Authority

Made up of a consortium which includes Aecon, ACS Infrastructure Canada Inc., and Flour Canada Ltd., Bridging North America will move ahead with design work and construction, the 74-month contract expected to reach completion by the end of 2024. Viewed in the concept art above, and again in the map diagram below, the 2.5-km cable-stayed bridge will have six lanes (3 in each direction), and will be situated well to the south of both the Ambassador Bridge and Detroit-Windsor Tunnel. 

Map showing new bridge in relation to old, image via the Windsor-Detroit Bridge Authority

The project will also include the construction of a 130-acre Canadian Port of Entry and 148-acre US Port of Entry (above), which will be built to handle the increased traffic. Indeed, the crossing already receives a great deal of vehicle and commercial traffic, with 7,000 trucks per day crossing the Windsor-Detroit border, for a yearly average of 2.5 million per year totaling a combined trade value of $173 billion (CAD). 

SkyriseCities will continue to monitor this project as details continue to develop. Please feel free to leave your thoughts on the project in the comments section below!