Gordie Howe Bridge Might Be Delayed; But Check Out This Public Pier

Created with help from First Nation members, the pier in Windsor, scheduled to open in late September, is meant for more than just sightseeing

Will Reaume

August 28, 2025

212

Cultural_pier — Renderings show the layout of the pier, which is designed to honor the traditions of First Nations cultures’ directional path of learning – enter from the left, and exit to the right. // Rendering courtesy of Gordie Howe International Bridge

As progress continues to be made on the $6.4 billion Gordie Howe International Bridge, just across the Detroit River in Windsor, Ontario, a new publicly accessible pier is opening this September. The “cultural pier” will feature First Nation interpretive art, benches, and unobstructed views of both the Gordie Howe and Ambassador bridges.

Owned by the Windsor Port Authority, $980,000 of the $2.5 million associated with the pier’s construction was funded through the Gordie Howe International Bridge Community Benefits Plan. The plan’s primary objective is to provide ways to advance the social and economic wellbeing of local neighborhoods through a variety of community-centered initiatives. Specifically targeted in the plan are the neighborhoods of Sandwich Town in Windsor, and Delray in southwest Detroit. On the U.S. side, organizations like the Detroit Hispanic Development Corporation, Puente Cultural Integration, and the Southwest Detroit Business Association have received funding through the bridge’s community outreach program.

With reported construction delays to the Gordie Howe International Bridge’s ports of entry, the opening date could be pushed to 2026. When reached for comment, the Windsor-Detroit Bridge Authority could not confirm the project was still on track for a September 2025 opening, as was stated in the last press release from bridge officials.

While the bridge is undergoing setbacks, Peter Berry, Windsor Port Authority’s Harbour Master, confirmed the pier will be opening on schedule at the end of September. The foundation piling and pier footings have been installed, and the structure is nearing completion at an off-site building location. With the opening of the pier, area leaders are hoping to provide new ways for both locals and visitors to appreciate the shoreline.

“We’re excited to support the Queen’s Dock Cultural Pier in Sandwich,” Charl van Niekerk, the Chief Executive Officer of Windsor-Detroit Bridge Authority says. “I commend Windsor Port Authority for driving this transformative initiative to enhance Windsor’s shoreline, attract tourism, and provide a new gathering space for residents and visitors to enjoy.”