Instead of opening at the end of this year, the first vehicles will cross the Gordie Howe International Bridge in September 2025.
The Windsor Detroit Bridge Authority announced the new timeline on Thursday, citing disruptions because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
"The disruptions were even more prevalent for the Gordie Howe International Bridge given the differing applicable restrictions in the U.S. and Canada, combined with the ramping up of construction activities in early 2020," read a release from the WDBA.
Chief Relations Officer Heather Grondin said the project had to follow hundreds of orders and restrictions on both sides of the border that dictated what work could be done.
The price tag for the new border crossing has also increased, from the original $5.7-billion estimate to $6.4-billion.
Projects all over the world witnessed higher building costs because of changes in the economy. Grondin said the bridge project felt those challenges more acutely because of its size and scope.
The Windsor Detroit Bridge Authority and Bridging North America have also sweetened the pot for impacted communities on both sides of the border. The Gordie Howe International Bridge Community Benefits Plan is being extended an extra year with an additional $3-million. The money will be divided evenly between Sandwich Towne and Delray in Detroit.
"We're going to take a little bit of time and figure out exactly how we're going to expend that $3-million. So we'll provide more information about that to the community in the coming months," said Grondin.
Meanwhile, the Authority is taking applications until the end of January for its Community Organization Investment Initiative. Between the two countries, it has $200,000 to invest in events, programs, and infrastructure improvements, costing up to $25,000 in the Sandwich and Delray neighbourhoods.
Over the coming year, Grondin said contractors will finish the bridge deck, install the last stay cables, and finish construction on the two ports of entry.