The Windsor Detroit Bridge Authority (WDBA) and Bridging North America (BNA) will host two information sessions and networking events for contractors and suppliers that wish to be involved on the Gordie Howe International Bridge Project.

The free summits will be held at Ceasars Windsor on November 13, and at the TCF Center in Detroit on November 20. Both will cover a range of subjects, including a project overview, an outline of the procurement process, and information on how contractors can keep up to date with developing procurement opportunities.

“The summits are opportunities for local businesses and companies from afar to work with the Gordie Howe International Bridge on a project that is one of the largest in North America,” says Mark Butler, WDBA director of communications. “We are inviting contractors, suppliers and vendors of all sizes and capacities to attend one or both of the summits to meet the procurement and construction teams, and learn about BNA’s procurement process, project timing and upcoming opportunities.”

By all accounts, the Gordie Howe International Bridge Project is a massive endeavour. Over the 74-month lifespan of the work, more than 2,500 jobs will be created, and $5.7 billion invested. That is not to say, however, that work on the project will be the domain of large contractors only. There will be a host of opportunities for contractors to work on the Canadian and American points of entry, for example, and for support services to be provided to the construction site offices on both sides of the border.

“There are many lesser-sized contracts within the project’s components,” says Butler. “For example, we will be looking for suppliers to provide things like cabling for IT, and personal protective equipment for the workers. The project will need everything all the way up to the iron and steel for the bridge.”

About the project

Construction on the bridge launched in October 2018. The project includes the construction of a six-lane, cable- stayed design bridge with a clear span of 853 metres and a total length of approximately 2.5 kilometres. It also includes new Canadian and U.S. ports of entry and approach bridges, border inspection plazas, tolling operations, and an interchange in Michigan connecting Interstate 75 to the U.S. port of entry.

The Windsor-Detroit trade corridor is the busiest Canada-U.S. commercial land border crossing. Approximately 7,000 trucks cross the corridor each day, and about 2.5 million trucks each year. In 2017 over CAD$173 billion in bilateral trade passed through the Windsor-Detroit trade corridor—23 percent of the overall trade between Canada and the United States.

For more information on the vendor summits, and to register, visit www.gordiehoweinternationalbridge.com.