WATCH: Gordie Howe Bridge project connects main span

Construction crews celebrate connecting the main span of the Gordie Howe International Bridge between the US and Canada earlier this month. (Image: Aecon)

Canada-based contractor Aecon Group said, “Driven by a monumental effort from thousands of workers over the past few years, the Gordie Howe International Bridge deck between Windsor, Ontario and Detroit, Michigan is now connected.

“After completing the installation of the final two permanent edge girders, the accomplishment was marked by a customary topping out ceremony with ironworkers and operating engineers – celebrating the historic connection with a handshake between the two nations’ union locals.”

With a price tag near US$5 billion, the immense scheme has been plagued by overruns on time and cost. A report from earlier this year found the build was more than $500-million overbudget and 10 months behind.

In early June, the Windsor Detroit Bridge Authority (WDBA) – the US-Canadian body responsible for building the bridge – expected to connect the main span before July.

The massive bridge – which now has the longest main span of any cable-stayed bridge in North America, and the tenth longest globally – is scheduled for completion in September 2025.

The WDBA said remaining work includes adding pavement markers, barriers, signage, and lightning for the roadway. Crews will also stress stay cables and install electrical and drainage systems.

Charl van Niekerk, CEO, Windsor-Detroit Bridge Authority, said earlier this year, “After a three-year pandemic and considering the size and complexity of the Gordie Howe International Bridge project, our project team is pleased that the impact to the construction schedule is limited to only 10 months beyond the original contracted completion date.”

Joining Aecon in the consortium to build the Gordie Howe is US-based Fluor and Spanish firm ACS Infrastructure.