While progress on desperately needed state and federal transportation funding increases languishes, progress on another transportation front is being made. Last week, the Windsor-Detroit Bridge Authority (WDBA) issued a request for qualifications to begin the process of selecting a team of private-sector partners to design, build, operate, maintain, and finance the Gordie Howe International Bridge between the U.S. and Canada.
Image: The Windsor-Detroit Bridge Authority rendering https://www.wdbridge.com/en/publications
This is the first step in the process that will ultimately result in WDBA selecting a private-sector team from what I expect will be a number of proposals. The entire procurement process is expected to take up to 18 months, and the bridge could be built and open in 2020.
In addition to this news, it was also reported last week that the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) would start making purchase offers in August for some of the 150 remaining residential property owners in the area of the Delray neighborhood where the bridge is planned. In other words, full steam ahead, but there are still likely to be some bumps in the road. For example, at least one of the properties MDOT needs to secure is currently owned by the Ambassador Bridge Company. The resolution of that could get interesting, especially now that the Bridge Company is working to get their new bridge proposal cleared in Canada at the same time Canada and the U.S. move forward on the Gordie Howe Bridge.
The new Gordie Howe bridge is an important part of the plan to improve our local and state economy, put more people to work, and increase safety, security, and mobility between the U.S. and Canada. The improved mobility will have a positive impact on maintaining and increasing the trade between our countries.
SEMCOG has long been involved in the planning process for this bridge; the project is currently included in our 2040 long-range transportation plan.
There is such a long way to go till that first car or truck crosses over the new bridge, but last week’s announcement lets us know that progress is being made – and that’s more than I can say about the funding situation!
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