One of the biggest development projects in the region is delaying its opening. The Gordie Howe International Bridge, which will add another connection between Detroit and Canada, will now finish construction in fall 2025.
It was originally expected to open in November of 2024. Officials cited the difficulty of the pandemic as a major factor in the delay. Construction was set to ramp up in early 2020; restrictions in Canada and the U.S. further delayed the project.
After the very busy years of construction in 2022 and 2023, the bridge deck is expected to connect this year. You can see a time-lapse video of the construction here.
Construction will be completed in September 2025. After testing and completing operating processes, vehicles are expected to start using the bridge that fall.
Charl van Niekerk, CEO, Windsor-Detroit Bridge Authority, says, “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 and that we could agree on a reasonable adjustment to the contract value. With safety as our top priority, we will continue to work together to deliver this much needed infrastructure to the thousands of eager travellers ready to cross North America’s longest cable-stayed bridge.”
When completed, not only will vehicles be able to cross the border, but bikes and pedestrians will have pathways as well.
