2024 was monumental for the Gordie Howe International Bridge project with achievements that were both on public display and behind-the-scenes.
In honour of the jersey number our namesake, Gordie Howe, famously wore throughout his hockey career, here are the project’s top nine highlights that defined 2024.
- Construction on the Michigan Interchange progressed to the point where the final steps are now underway for the ramps that will connect I-75 to the US Port of Entry. Construction also advanced on five new pedestrian bridges and siphons.
- The project team won eight awards for social responsibility, communication efforts and approach to health and safety – including U.S. Coast Guard and Fluor medallion awards for the rescue of four people from the frigid waters of the Detroit River.
- Highlighting the commitment to communicating and building connections with community members, the project team received over 900 public and media inquiries, participated in nearly 400 meetings and events, distributed 19 email newsletters to over 2,700 subscribers, and gained 18,000 social media followers.
- The Gordie Howe International Bridge became the first international border crossing to join the Trans Canada Trail. The multi-use path on the bridge is a physical representation of the project’s commitment to sustainability. It will be toll free and accommodate two-way pedestrian and cyclist traffic, connecting the Great Lakes Waterfront Trail in Windsor, Ontario to the Iron Belle Trail and the Great Lakes Way in Detroit, Michigan.
- At the Canadian and US Ports of Entry, construction activities progressed on all 11 structures at the Canadian POE and all 13 structures at the US POE. In addition, landscaping and paving work for the 16 toll lanes and 24 primary inspection lanes in Canada and 36 primary inspection lanes in the US continued at a rapid rate. Once complete, the two Ports of Entry will be the largest land ports of entry along the Canada-US border.
- Plans for three memorable, high-quality, works of art were unveiled to celebrate and promote creativity and friendship between Canada and the US. Renowned Canadian artist Douglas Coupland was selected to develop an artistic lighting concept for the bridge. Contemporary mixed media artist Jordan Sook shared his concept for a large-scale, free-standing sculpture to recognize and commemorate the Windsor-Detroit region’s role as a destination for freedom-seekers of African descent travelling the Underground Railroad to Canada. Michael Belmore, a Canadian artist of Anishinaabe descent, unveiled and installed his 3 metre/10 foot high free-standing sculpture at the Canadian Port of Entry to reflect the culture and traditions of Indigenous Peoples in Canada.
- Nearly $3 million in new investments were announced for 26 new initiatives as part of the Gordie Howe International Bridge Community Benefits Plan. The neighbourhooods of Sandwich, west Windsor, Delray and Southwest Detroit will be able to take advantage of the funding that supports different needs, from community outreach, urban and arts-based youth programming to school lunches, environmental stewardship and celebrating local history.
- More than 13,500 people have now been oriented to work on the Gordie Howe International Bridge project, logging over 16 million hours.
- The top highlight in 2024 – the connection of the bridge deck over the Detroit River, making the main span of the Gordie Howe International Bridge the longest of any cable-stayed bridge in North America. The final girders for this incredible feat of engineering were installed in June, an emotional moment for workers who were part of building the newest border crossing between Ontario and Michigan in more than 60 years.
