DETROIT, July 17, 2018 /CNW/ - The Windsor-Detroit trade corridor is the busiest commercial land border crossing and an important trade and transportation route between Canada and the United States. As a safe and essential additional crossing option at this important corridor, the Gordie Howe International Bridge will ensure people and goods move safely and smoothly between the two countries, supporting middle-class jobs and businesses on both sides of the border.

The Honourable Amarjeet Sohi, Canadian Minister of Infrastructure and Communities, and Michigan Governor Rick Snyder today participated in an event to mark the Michigan advance construction groundbreaking for the Gordie Howe International Bridge.

Kelly Craft, United States Ambassador to Canada, James Craig, Police Chief of the City of Detroit, Dwight Duncan, Chair of Windsor-Detroit Bridge Authority's Board of Directors and senior executives from Bridging North America, the Preferred Proponent selected to design, build, finance, operate and maintain the Gordie Howe International Bridge, also participated.

The new six-lane, cable-stayed international bridge will provide direct connectivity to existing highway networks in Windsor and Detroit. Along with modern border processing infrastructure and the capacity to move goods and travelers efficiently through the corridor, the Gordie Howe International Bridge will encourage new investment between Canada and the United States.

Thanks to the continued collaboration of many groups in both countries, the Michigan advance construction groundbreaking for the Gordie Howe International Bridge in the United States demonstrates considerable progress towards the realization of this critical project.

Today's event will allow for the full construction start of the Gordie Howe International Bridge, which will begin after Financial Close in the Fall of 2018.

Quote

"Today's milestone is an important step in the building of one of Canada's top infrastructure priorities. Along with the recent announcement of the Preferred Proponent, the reveal of the bridge design, and the advance construction that has been happening on the Canadian side, it is clear that progress is well underway towards full construction starting this Fall.

The Gordie Howe International Bridge will play a vital role in supporting and growing the local economies on both sides of the border and will create opportunities for residents and businesses alike. This project is also an important symbol of our deep friendship and mutually beneficial relationship with the United States and I'm proud to be working towards its completion in partnership with Governor Snyder and the Michigan government."

The Honourable Amarjeet Sohi, Minister of Infrastructure and Communities

"This is an exciting day for Detroit, Windsor, Michigan, Ontario, the United States, and Canada. After more than seven years of hard work, today we broke ground on what will be a thriving legacy named for a legend. Gordie Howe represented the best of Canada and the United States. And, thanks to the hard work of many people on both sides of the border, now this bridge to the future will represent our prosperous partnership for generations to come."

Rick Snyder, Governor of Michigan

Quick facts

• Advance construction activities include design work to progress with foundation construction of the main bridge, test piles, preparation work at Interstate 75, and geotechnical exploration.
• The Gordie Howe International Bridge brings opportunities in the form of jobs and contracts for local workers, service providers, and material manufacturers and distributors in both Canada and the United States.
• The Windsor-Detroit Gateway is the busiest Canada-United States commercial land border crossing and is vital to the economies of Ontario, Michigan, Canada and the United States, with some 7,000 trucks crossing each day. About 2.5 million trucks cross the Windsor-Detroit border each year. In 2017 this represented over US$106.5 billion in bilateral trade (CAD$138 billion)
• The Gordie Howe International Bridge project includes the construction of:
• A six-lane, cable-stayed design bridge of 850m (0.53 miles) and a total length of approximately 2.5 km (1.5 miles),
• Canadian and United States Ports of Entry including approach bridges, customs plazas and a tolling station on the Canadian side; and,
• A Michigan interchange connecting Interstate 75 to the United States Port of Entry.
• Once constructed, Canada's Port of Entry will be the largest Canadian port on the Canada-United States border and the United States Port of Entry will be one of the largest in North America.
• Canada and the United States share the world's longest secure border, over which approximately 400,000 people, and goods and services worth US$1.9 billion (CAD$2.5 billion), cross daily.

Associated links

Infrastructure Canada: www.infrastructure.gc.ca

Windsor-Detroit Bridge Authority: www.wdbridge.com

Michigan: www.michigan.gov

Twitter: @INFC_eng

SOURCE Infrastructure Canada

View original content: http://www.newswire.ca/en/releases/archive/July2018/17/c4039.html