The first installment of funding for the American portion of the Gordie Howe International Bridge is in place.
Crain's Detroit Business has reported that $15 million has been approved for work on the Detroit customs plaza of the bridge. The money is part of a $1.4 trillion federal budget deal approved by Congress and signed into law by President Donald Trump.
The $15 million will be used to pay for the state-of-the-art vehicle screening and inspection systems at the U.S. port of entry.
This is the first U.S. financial commitment to the bridge project, which is being primarily funded by the Canadian government. U.S. Senator Gary Peters of Michigan had pushed to get the funding included in the federal budget.
"Ensuring the safety and security of Michiganders is my top priority, and I was proud to help secure this critical funding to strengthen border security by hiring additional personnel, and facilitate safe and efficient trade and travel through Michigan's busy ports of entry," said Peters in a statement reported by Crain's. "These resources will go a long way to help bolster security along Michigan's northern border and safeguard Michigan communities."
The total cost of the bridge and both the U.S. and Canadian ports of entry is estimated at $2.9 billion.
The bridge, named after legendary Detroit Red Wings star Gordie Howe, will be a 2.5-kilometre, six-lane, cable-stayed span that will also include a multi-use path for walkers and cyclists. The project also includes the Canadian Port of Entry in west Windsor, which will be 130 acres in total; and the U.S. Point of Entry at 167 acres. Also included is the interchange linking the span with I-75 in southwest Detroit. The two ports of entry will be among the largest on the Canadian-US border.
Among the work going on at the bridge site, a Windsor headquarters opening at Sandwich Street and Prospect Avenue, over one-third of the 150,000 wick drains have been installed, and the towers could start rising as soon as mid-2020.
“So right now, we’re focused on the drilled shafts and the work in the ground itself,” said Bridging North America CEO Aaron Epstein in November. “The towers themselves are going to be rising, I would say in the summer.”
The targeted opening date remains 2024.
-With files from Adelle Loiselle
