A brand new bridge worth £3.78billion which will connect the USA and Canada over the Detroit River is all set to see its completion this month.
The Gordie Howe Bridge, a 2.5km cable-stayed structure, is being built by Bridging North America (BNA), a consortium of ACS Infrastructure Canada, Fluor Canada, and Aecon.
Upon completion, its 853m main span will be the longest cable-stayed bridge in North America and the longest composite deck cable-stayed bridge worldwide.
The construction work of the bridge kicked off in 2018 and has seen several delays since then. Earlier this year it was reported that the deadline for completing the bridge was pushed by 10 months as the construction cost also rose by £413m.
According to the project promoter, the Windsor Detroit Bridge Authority (WDBA), the opening delay has been attributed to “unprecedented disruptions caused by the Covid-19 global pandemic”.
These disruptions were particularly significant for the Gordie Howe Bridge due to differing restrictions between the US and Canada, alongside the intensification of construction activities in early 2020.
As per the latest reports, Crews will complete one more 49-foot (15 metre) segment on the US side before working on the last section, known as the mid-span closure.
The team said: “Once connected, the bridge deck spanning the distance between the two iconic towers will measure 0.53miles making it the longest main span of any cable-stayed bridge in North America and the tenth longest in the world.
“It will also be the longest composite steel and concrete bridge deck for any cable-stayed bridge in the world.”
Coordinated by the Canadian corporation Windsor-Detroit Bridge Authority (WDBA) and with AECOM leading the design, the cable-stayed bridge was named in honour of Detroit Red Wings hockey player Gordie Howe.
According to WDBA, the bridge towers were designed to “reflect the curvature of a hockey stick in a slap shot”.
In addition to the bridge, the completed project will feature border inspection facilities on both the US and Canadian sides.
It will also include a toll-free “multi-use path” running parallel to the traffic lanes, accommodating two-way pedestrian and cyclist traffic.
The team continued: “The integration of the multi-use path will benefit communities and travellers by supporting active transportation, healthy lifestyles and enhance cross-border tourism while providing sustainable options for reducing the carbon footprint of cross-border traffic.”
The bridge is scheduled to open to the public in Fall 2025. However, there is still “plenty of work” to be done, including the installation of electrical, fire safety, and drainage systems, as well as barriers, signage, lighting, deck paving, and pavement markings.
The bridge provides a publically-owned alternative to the nearby privately owned Ambassador Bridge, which is currently “the busiest international crossing in North America”.
WDBA CEO Charl van Niekerk said: “Achieving the bridge deck connection is monumental in the progress on the Gordie Howe International Bridge project.
“After years of planning and construction, we remain on course to open the bridge in fall 2025, and, with that, create new opportunities for economic growth and prosperity.”