Exciting details on the Gordie Howe International Bridge

Image: Windsor-Detroit Bridge Authority; for information purposes only; details may change during procurement process

At SEMCOG, the Gordie Howe International Bridge is an important part of our Economic Development Strategy and 2045 Regional Transportation Plan. As such, we were honored to welcome Joe Comartin, Consul General of Canada in Detroit, and Heather Grondin, Vice President of Communications and Stakeholder Relations, Windsor-Detroit Bridge Authority, to a recent Executive Committee meeting. There, they gave our local elected officials an update on the progress of the bridge. It’s exciting to think that by late 2024, we’ll be using the new bridge. Here are some of the details they shared.

Commerce

The U.S.-Canada border is the most active, open, secure border of any place in the world.
$2 billion worth of commerce and 400,000 people cross the U.S.-Canada border each day.
259,000 Michigan jobs depend on trade and investment with Canada.
6,000 commuters cross the Detroit-Windsor border every day; 2.5 million trucks cross annually.

Need

The Gordie Howe International Bridge is the single largest infrastructure project in Canada, important to all Canadians.
It is the only crossing that provides highway-highway connectivity, connecting I-75 in Detroit to Highway 401 in Windsor.
There are four important needs – redundancy, capacity, border processing capabilities, and system connectivity.

Bridge details

Six lanes, three in each direction; 1.5 miles long.
Cable stay design, with piers constructed on land that will be as tall as the Renaissance Center.
One-half mile will be clear span, the longest landmark in the regional skyline.
Will include multi-use path for pedestrians and bicyclists (nearly 12 feet wide).

U.S. port of entry

At 167 acres, it will be one of the largest in North America, and will include inspection, commercial control booths, and parking.
There will be no toll booths in the U.S. All tolls will be collected in Canada.

Connection to I-75

1.8 miles of I-75 and interchange ramps.
Four new crossing road bridges; five new pedestrian bridges.
Four long connecting ramp bridges from I-75 to the U.S. plaza.
Key intersections will be widened to allow transport trucks to make uninterrupted turns, plus local road improvements.
Permanent road closures will begin in February/March 2019

Procurement process

Public-private partnership; Bridging North America is the preferred proponent announced in July 2018.
Cost of bridge is $5.7 billion (Canadian dollars).
Canada will operate and maintain the bridge for 30 years; the Michigan interchange will be maintained by MDOT.
A Community Benefits Plan will have a positive impact on communities in Detroit and Windsor; reflects what stakeholders said is important to them.
Construction will last 74 months; there will be extensive testing before bridge is open to public in late 2024.

Jobs

2,500 jobs needed for construction; early in hiring process now.
Bridging North America opportunities listed on www.GordieHoweInternationalBridge.com.

We look forward to completion of this important project. For more information: