Construction crews mark 2,000 days of work on the Gordie Howe bridge
Construction work on the Gordie Howe International Bridge has now been officially underway for more than 2,000 days.
The project team hit the milestone on March 27, accumulating more than 12 million hours worked since the first shovel hit the ground on October 5, 2018.
To date, more than 11,415 individuals have been oriented to work on the project in Canada and the United States. Of them, 42 percent are local to the Windsor and Detroit area. Over 690 apprenticeship/pre-apprentices have also been assigned to the project.
The team has completed specific activities or advanced to the next stage of work across all four project components. Specifically,
- Bridge tower construction is complete with towers now standing at their final height of 220 metres/722 feet.
- Only 10 of 56 segments remain to be installed on the bridge deck over the Detroit River.
- Only 20 of 216 stay cables remain to be installed.
- The falsework bents supporting the back span of the bridge are now removed.
- All 40 steel edge girders in the approach spans connecting the bridge to both Ports of Entry have been placed.
- At the Canadian and US Ports of Entry, paving of lanes, parking lots and roadways is ongoing while painting and floor installation has started inside 10 of 12 buildings.
- The final girders that are being installed on the ramps vary in length from 148 metres/487 feet to 304 metres/997 feet and connect I-75 to the US Port of Entry.
- One section of the 3 km/1.9 mile Sandwich Street reconstruction project is completed with another section currently underway and a third to start this spring.
Additionally, the project’s Joint Health and Safety Committee has been recognized with industry awards for its extraordinary efforts to continually improve workplace health and safety.
“The great progress across all components of the Gordie Howe International Bridge project is the direct result of the collaboration between our partners, contractors, craft workers and so many others who have come together to make this vision a reality,” said Charl van Niekerk, Chief Executive Officer, Windsor-Detroit Bridge Authority “I applaud the trades for their tireless efforts and determination in building a once-in-a-generation landmark and their commitment to safety and quality.”
Construction is anticipated to be completed in September 2025 with the first vehicles travelling across the bridge that fall.