Windsor, Ontario • The Gordie Howe International Bridge project team is celebrating 2000 days and over 12 million hours worked since the first shovel hit the ground on this legacy infrastructure project. This achievement, reached on March 27, 2024, was made possible by the determination and hard work of trade workers and project staff.
Construction started on October 5, 2018. Over this time, the team’s highest priority has been its commitment to safety. Integrating sustainable features throughout the design and construction, the team has completed specific activities or advanced to the next stage of work across all four project components.
- Bridge tower construction is complete with towers now standing at their final height of 220 metres/722 feet.
- Only 10 of 56 segments remain to be installed on the bridge deck over the Detroit River.
- Only 20 of 216 stay cables remain to be installed.
- The falsework bents supporting the back span of the bridge are now removed.
- All 40 steel edge girders in the approach spans connecting the bridge to both Ports of Entry have been placed.
- At the Canadian and US Ports of Entry, paving of lanes, parking lots and roadways is ongoing while painting and floor installation has started inside 10 of 12 buildings.
- The final girders that are being installed on the ramps vary in length from 148 metres/487 feet to 304 metres/997 feet and connect I-75 to the US Port of Entry.
- One section of the 3 km/1.9 mile Sandwich Street reconstruction project is completed with another section currently underway and a third to start this spring.
Additionally, the artworks that previously adorned the tower jump form systems have been accepted by the Canadian Transportation Museum and Heritage Village, the City of Windsor, in partnership with Museum Windsor and Art Windsor-Essex, the City of Detroit, Ironworkers Local 25 and Michigan Regional Council of Carpenters and Millwrights Local 687.
To mark “2000 Days of Construction”, community members of all ages are invited to participate in a hard hat sticker design contest. Hard hat stickers have special meaning for onsite crews. Not only do they designate training, certification and union affiliation, they also represent projects and construction sites worked. For this contest, community members are asked to develop an image that celebrates all-things construction and honours those working across all four project component sites. The contest is now open and ends April 26, 2024. Learn more at: gordiehoweinternationalbridge.com/en/2000-days-of-construction
QUOTES
“The great progress across all components of the Gordie Howe International Bridge project is the direct result of the collaboration between our partners, contractors, craft workers and so many others who have come together to make this vision a reality. I applaud the trades for their tireless efforts and determination in building a once-in-a-generation landmark and their commitment to safety and quality.”
- Charl van Niekerk, Chief Executive Officer, Windsor-Detroit Bridge Authority
“As we celebrate 2000 days of construction, I continue to take pride in the hard work and commitment to safety I see every day with the workers at BNA. As our progress becomes more visible, excitement is building amongst the public and shared by the BNA team as we move closer to construction completion.”
- David Henderson, Chief Executive Officer, Bridging North America
“Seeing this beautiful bridge take shape is a highlight of mine and my colleagues at the Michigan Department of Transportation. The bridge is a testament to binational collaboration and the unwavering commitment of the builders who have worked 2,000 days and endured many obstacles to make this project a reality.”
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Bradley C. Wieferich, Director, Michigan Department of Transportation
“Congratulations to Windsor-Detroit Bridge Authority and Bridging North America for achieving this monumental milestone. This day marks an exciting moment for everyone involved in the construction of this once-in-a-generation bridge. As one of Canada’s most significant infrastructure projects, the Gordie Howe International Bridge project has supported the creation of thousands of jobs, and it will continue to create economic opportunities as a vital trade corridor for Canada and the U.S. for generations to come.”
- Irek Kusmierczyk, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Official Languages and Member of Parliament for Windsor—Tecumseh, on behalf of the Honourable Sean Fraser, Minister of Housing, Infrastructure and Communities
QUICK FACTS
- Since the start of construction, over 11,415 individuals have been oriented to work on the project in Canada and the US, and of that, 42 per cent are local to the Windsor and Detroit area.
- Over 690 apprenticeship/pre-apprentices have been assigned to the project.
- The project’s Joint Health and Safety Committee has been recognized with industry awards for its extraordinary efforts to continually improve workplace health and safety.
- Construction of the Gordie Howe International Bridge project is anticipated to be completed in September 2025 with the first vehicles travelling across the bridge that fall.
RELEVANT LINKS
ASSOCIATED LINKS
ABOUT WINDSOR-DETROIT BRIDGE AUTHORITY
Windsor-Detroit Bridge Authority (WDBA) is a not-for-profit Canadian Crown corporation created to deliver the Gordie Howe International Bridge project between Windsor, ON and Detroit, MI through a public-private partnership (P3). WDBA is responsible for overseeing and managing the construction and operation of the new crossing. For more information on WDBA visit GordieHoweInternationalBridge.com and follow the project on Facebook.
ABOUT BRIDGING NORTH AMERICA
Bridging North America (BNA) became the private-sector partner to design, build, finance, operate and maintain the Gordie Howe International Bridge project in September 2018. BNA is comprised of some of the most recognized leaders in the construction and infrastructure industry which includes North American and international companies. BNA partners have significant experience carrying out major infrastructure projects such as the Rt. Hon. Herb Gray Parkway in Windsor, Ontario; New Champlain Bridge Corridor in Montreal, Quebec; Autoroute 30 in Montreal, Quebec; Eglinton Crosstown LRT in Toronto, Ontario; Réseau Express Métropolitain (REM) in Montreal, Quebec; Automated People Mover at LAX Airport, California; Harbor Bridge, Corpus Christi, Texas; Tappan Zee Bridge in New York and San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge, California.
ABOUT MICHIGAN DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
The Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) is responsible for Michigan's 9,669-mile state highway system, comprised of all M, I, and US routes. MDOT also administers other state and federal transportation programs for aviation, intercity passenger services, rail freight, local public transit services, the Transportation Economic Development Fund (TEDF), and others. MDOT works directly with WDBA on the US components of the Gordie Howe International Bridge project.
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Media Relations Team
Gordie Howe International Bridge
226-757-1716
