Gordie Howe bridge project wins sustainability award
The Gordie Howe bridge project has received a significant award for environmental sustainability.
The Institute for Sustainable Infrastructure (ISI) announced earlier this month that the project had earned its prestigious Envision Platinum Award. The certification is the highest possible distinction awarded by the ISI, which recognizes efforts to achieve sustainable development and environmental performance standards at every stage of an infrastructure project, from design to construction and implementation.
“The Envision Platinum Award is an outstanding achievement and I would like to congratulate the teams involved for their commitment to meet the highest environmental standards for sustainable infrastructure,” said Bryce Phillips, CEO of the Windsor-Detroit Bridge Authority. “The bridge will not only address regional transportation needs to help grow the economies in Canada and the US, but it has also been designed to contribute to a cleaner environment, protect the communities of Windsor and Detroit from the impacts of climate change and conserve resources for future generations.”
ISI identified several key sustainability features of the Gordie Howe International Bridge project, including:
- 100 percent of the project is located on previously developed lands, with part of it being located on a former (remediated) brownfield site
- a new prairie habitat and habitat for pollinators will be provided, a peregrine falcon box will be installed and thousands of trees will be planted
- to address the risk of increased intensity and severity of precipitation over time, the project includes stormwater ponds, low-impact development, and bioswales that manage stormwater going into the public system or entering the waterway
- transportation benefits that address climate change and regional development will be realized including relief of traffic congestion of freight trucks in nearby neighbourhoods on both sides of the bridge, improved border processing for freight and travellers with highway-to-highway connectivity, and connectivity of existing routes and creation of safer routes for pedestrians and cyclists
- thousands of direct and indirect jobs are being created both during the design-build phase and when the bridge is in operation.
“We are proud to share the prestigious Envision Platinum Award,” said Michael Hatchell, CEO of Bridging North America. “Through a collaborative process with WDBA, our staff developed key performance indicators with sustainability objectives that led to increased levels of achievement across the Envision rating system. It is an honour to be recognized with the highest possible distinction for our commitment to the environment and sustainable infrastructure."
The four components of the Gordie Howe International Bridge project make it one of the largest infrastructure projects in North America. The bridge and Michigan Interchange are designed to meet the Envision Platinum rating, while the Canadian and US Ports of Entry are designed to meet LEED v4 Silver rating.
In addition, the project’s Community Benefits Plan includes $20 million in direct community investments including trail connections, road and park improvements, home improvements, arts and culture initiatives and a contribution to a wildlife eco-passage.