The Gordie Howe International Bridge has been described as a once-in-a-generation undertaking that seeks to provide much needed transportation improvements for those traveling between Windsor and Detroit.
The Windsor-Detroit Bridge Authority (WDBA) began work on this Detroit development project in the early 2000s to address border stakeholder and industry concerns that the existing Ontario-Michigan crossings would not be able to support the anticipated increase in traffic.
Named after Gordie Howe, a Canadian hockey player who led the Detroit Red Wings to four Stanley Cup victories, the bridge is “one of the largest and most ambitious infrastructure project along the Canada-United States border,” according to the project’s website, and is expected to “deliver much-needed transportation improvements to international travelers” by creating a new option to cross the border. It is also expected to create new jobs, and opportunities for growth to the area.
Construction began on the bridge in 2018. This month, the team has begun releasing photo galleries of different components of the project. On May 4, they released images of the Canadian Bridge site, showcasing the start of the bridge on both sides of the Detroit River.
Additionally, the bridge team released flyover videos of the Canadian Port and Michigan Interchange that you can watch below. These galleries and videos are a part of the WDBA’s devotion to transparency and progress.
A key feature of the Gordie Howe International Bridge project is its Community Benefits Plan. Through this plan, the project team hopes to advance the economic, social, and environmental conditions for local communities — especially the Delray and Southwest Detroit communities, which is where the bridge is being built.
In their Winter 2023 Community Benefits Report, WDBA announced the completion of their improvements on Clark Park and McGee Park, as part of their Neighborhood Infrastructure Strategy. These renovations included newly installed fitness equipment, a gazebo, and an enhanced boardwalk.
The benefit plan also includes business development programming for local businesses in the Sandwich and Delray areas. The Sandwich Development Program provides small businesses with support and programming through site visits, targeted outreach, webinars, and consultations.
The new Southwest Detroit Small Business Program offers bilingual coaching and technical assistance, networking, workshops, and marketing and marketplace opportunities.
Updates on the bridge construction are available at gorgiehoweinternationalbridge.com.
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