Two years in, and construction of the Gordie Howe International Bridge Project remains on track for its opening at the end of 2024—this, despite the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Windsor-Detroit Bridge Authority provided a project update to stakeholders on September 28. In it, the group itemized the progress achieved by construction crews in the past two years as the project heads into its busiest construction period.

“Despite the need to change the way we all both live and work as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, we have not slowed down,” said Windsor-Detroit Bridge Authority CEO Bryce Phillips.

On the Canadian port of entry, teams have installed 133,000 wick drains to consolidate soils for future construction. The remainder of 2020 will see a number of earthworks activities including significant onsite movement of soil materials used as surcharge to help settle the underlaying soils, and the installation of temporary and permanent stormwater retention ponds.

Test shaft work for the footings of the bridge itself have been completed, and construction of the tower foundations for the main bridge are now underway on both the Canadian and US bridge. Initial concrete pours are already completed. Two massive tower cranes have been installed at both the Canadian and US bridge sites to aid in the construction of the two 220-metre towers.

The site for the US port of entry continues to be prepared for major construction with fence installation around the worksite and completion of the office trailers. Roads within the port of entry footprint have been permanently closed to facilitate construction. Clearing and grubbing is complete and major earthworks have begun with more than 550,000 metric tonnes of engineered fill and surcharge material placed. Approximately 80,000 wick drains have been installed to accelerate the settlement of soils to expedite construction and limit long-term settlement.

Finally, five pedestrian bridges and three road bridges over Interstate 75 have been demolished to accommodate work on the Michigan interchange. Work over the next several months will focus on the reconstruction of the three new road bridges over I-75. The new bridges are anticipated to be complete next spring.

Work on the $5.7-billion project is expected to reach its most active stage between 2021 and 2023, when approximately 70 percent of total work hours will be expended. So far, contractor Bridging North America has oriented more than 2,800 workers to the project in Canada and the United States—half of whom are local. Over 150 local businesses have been engaged to date.

“Bridging North America is committed to completing the project safely in the midst of these unprecedented times,” said Bridging North America CEO Aaron Epstein. “Our partnership with WDBA remains strong and we appreciate the work of everyone involved at all levels of the project to ensure an innovative and best-in-class asset is delivered to the Detroit-Windsor community.”

Watch the September 2020 Construction Update video below.