Gordie Howe International Bridge construction as of April 2023. (Provided by the Windsor Detroit Bridge Authority)Gordie Howe International Bridge construction as of April 2023. (Provided by the Windsor Detroit Bridge Authority)
Windsor

Gordie Howe International Bridge construction on track

The Windsor Detroit Bridge Authority is still aiming for a fall 2024 opening as construction continues on the Gordie Howe International Bridge.

The bridge towers continue to rise in height and the bridge deck is reaching across the river from both sides of the border.

"You're actually now starting to see what it's going to look like when it's done. You can almost imagine it connecting and imagine what it's going to be like to drive over," said Heather Grondin, vice-president of corporate affairs and external relations.

The two sides are not expected to meet until 2024. The cable-stay bridge will have six lanes of traffic, plus a bike lane and pedestrian lane.

Right now the bridge towers are about 190 metres or 625 feet tall, they will be 220 metres or 722 feet tall at full height. The towers are expected to reach full height by the end of the year.

Construction also continues on all 11 structures at the Canadian Port of Entry and 13 buildings at the US Port of Entry.

"We are in the busiest time of construction to date," said Grondin. "We have 1,000 plus people across all four construction sites every single day. Work is going, planning is ongoing and we really are looking toward that operations phase and getting ready for that very first vehicle that's going to cross," said Grondin.

When the original contract for the project was awarded to Bridging North America it came with a price tag of $5.7 billion. That price has not been adjusted for recent inflation.

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Photo by Sarah Joy via Flickr

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