Officials celebrate as Gordie Howe International Bridge becomes official border crossing

The Gordie Howe International Bridge in the background of Mariners' Memorial Lighthouse taken at Belanger Park in River Rouge on July 24,2024. | Kyle Davidson

With the bridge deck on the Gordie Howe International Bridge connected, officials from the U.S. and Canada marked another milestone Wednesday, as the bridge linking Detroit to Windsor, Ontario, is now an official border crossing.

While the final two edge girders connecting the bridge deck were put in place on June 14, the connection process is now complete with workers installing the remaining steel beams and precast concrete panels.

Canada’s Minister of Housing, Infrastructure and Communities Sean Fraser, U.S. Federal Highway Administrator (FHWA) Shailen Bhatt, Michigan State Transportation Director Bradley Wieferich, U.S. and Canadian border officials and other individuals marked the accomplishment during a news conference on Wednesday. 

“I am thrilled to celebrate the connection of the Gordie Howe International Bridge, which represents the strong ties between Detroit and Windsor, and the US and Canada. Over twenty years of collaboration and dedication have led us to this important milestone, and FHWA is proud to stand together with the many partners who made this bridge a reality,” Bhatt said in a statement released after the event. 

Focus now shifts to the bridge’s surface, with about a year of construction left on the project, according to the Windsor-Detroit Bridge Authority. 

“Connecting the American and Canadian sides of the Gordie Howe International Bridge is an incredible example of ingenuity and engineering. It also is a perfect metaphor for what can be accomplished when we all work together toward a common goal,” Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan said in a statement. “When this magnificent structure opens next year, we will have built a bridge in more ways than one that will benefit our communities for generations to come.”

With the first vehicles set to cross the bridge in Fall 2025, workers are still installing electrical systems, including lighting, alongside drainage systems, fire suppression, continued road surface work, adjusting the bridge’s stay cables and installing safety and emergency features. 

The completed bridge will also house a peregrine falcon nesting box located below the deck and featuring a remote operated camera. 

In a statement, Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer applauded the workers who helped complete the bridge deck. 

“As we celebrate the completion of the bridge deck, let’s thank the ironworkers, operating engineers, and countless other Michiganders and Canadians who are working hard to get it done,” Whitmer said. 

“Because of our effective collaboration on this bridge, commerce will flow, commuters will get to work and back home, and both of our economies will continue to grow. Let’s take a moment to celebrate and then stay focused on getting the job done,” Whitmer said.

The post Officials celebrate as Gordie Howe International Bridge becomes official border crossing appeared first on Michigan Advance.