DETROIT (WWJ) — Crews have one final segment to install before the U.S. and Canadian sides of the Gordie Howe International Bridge connect.
During a tour of the bridge deck on Tuesday, officials said the bridge is still on track to open in late 2025. The final pieces of the deck are expected to be laid into place next month — slightly sooner than estimations made at the beginning of May.
David Henderson, CEO of the Bridging North American Joint Partnership, told WWJ’s Jon Hewett on the bridge, some 138 feet above the Detroit River, Tuesday crews have been scrutinizing every millimeter of the bridge since construction began in 2018.
“From the very first section that was placed, we’ve been doing a very close survey control. The bridge engineers and the construction managers have assured me that there’s been no more than 100-150 millimeters of deviation as they were coming. They were targeting each other as they came across, so it’ll be very precise as they approach,” Henderson said.
Once the bridge is completed, it will be the longest main span of any cable-stayed bridge in North America and the 10th largest in the world, at just under 2,800 feet.
It will also be the composite steel and concrete bridge deck for any cable-stayed bridge in the world.
While the decks are expected to be connected in the near future, there will still be lots of work to be done before it can open for traffic.
"There'll be a little bit of time after construction is completed where we'll be doing our final testing, ensuring that everything is working -- so like, the tolling systems are working, the lighting systems are working, our border agencies who will have access to come in, do their fit-up, train their staff, all ready to go," said Heather Grondin of the Windsor-Detroit Bridge Authority.
Grondin said all those things have to fall into place because their goal is "to have as seamless of an opening day as possible."
More than 11,000 workers have taken part in the construction of what will be the second bridge connecting the U.S. and Canada between Detroit and Windsor, joining the iconic Ambassador Bridge. A third option for travelers, the Detroit-Windsor Tunnel, also remains open.
It adds another important connection in the Detroit-Windsor corridor, which bridge officials say carries an estimated 25% of all trade between the two countries.
The bridge is named after Detroit Red Wings legend Gordie Howe. The Canadian native spent 25 years playing for Detroit in his legendary hockey career that saw him play professionally in five different decades.