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Officials mark connection of Gordie Howe Bridge decks

$4.5 billion project nears completion

DETROIT – Although the Gordie Howe International Bridge doesn’t open to the public until fall 2025, it is now officially considered a border crossing with the bridge deck connecting Detroit to Windsor.

U.S. and Canadian officials celebrated the milestone Wednesday (July 23) on the bridge deck.

“I want to begin by thanking the thousands of workers, both Canadian and American, that built this bridge,” said Irek Kusmierczyk, a member of Parliament for Windsor-Tecumseh.

Work on the bridge deck began in 2022 on each side.

It is .53 miles, making it the longest cable-stayed bridge in North America, the 10th longest in the world.

The bridge is also the first new crossing to connect Michigan and Ontario in more than 60 years.

“Right here high above the Detroit River, two ironworkers, one from Canada and one from the U.S., shaking hands to mark the completion of this bridge deck, that photo captures what this project is all about. It’s about jobs. It’s about the economy and it’s about partnership,” MDOT director Bradley Wieferich said.

The focus now shifts to such things as the electrical systems, drainage, and the road surface.

---> When will Gordie Howe International Bridge project be done? See timeline of progress


About the Author

Will Jones rejoined the Local 4 News team in February 2023 as a weekend anchor and reporter. He previously worked as a general assignment reporter for the station from 2012 to 2015.

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