The Windsor-Detroit Bridge Authority (WDBA) is entering the home stretch of construction on one of North America's largest infrastructure projects.
Last week, the authority released its annual report on the Gordie Howe International Bridge project, and it stated that the bridge is on track for completion in September.
"Through more than 12-million hours of work logged, and with each girder lifted into place, each stay cable tensioned, each slab of concrete poured, and each section of drywall installed, we are getting closer to completing construction of this transformative infrastructure project," said WDBA CEO Charl van Niekerk. "We are proud that over 11,415 people have been oriented to work on the project, 42 per cent of which are local to Windsor-Essex and Detroit."
According to the report, which covered operations during the 2023-2024 fiscal year, construction on the span peaked, complete with the symbolic joining of the bridge deck between Canada and the United States, and the topping off of the massive 220-metre towers.
The bridge deck is about 85 per cent complete, according to the report, and 200 of the 216 stay cables are in place.
At the Canadian port of entry in Windsor, the 24 primary inspection booths and canopy for the CBSA are almost complete, and work on the 16 toll booths is less than half-finished. Construction on all the indoor structures at the Windsor entry is also progressing.
At the American port of entry in Detroit, the pedestrian processing facility is almost ready, and there is 58 per cent progress on 36 CBP inspection booths.
The installation of steel girders and beams on the four ramps connecting Interstate 75 to the Detroit port of entry was finished. The widening of I-75 and local road improvements is about 85 per cent complete.
The report also discusses the progress of the projects made possible by the bridge's community benefits plan.