Fact Sheets

With roots in southern Ontario, Sara Graham was the artist chosen to work with the Gordie Howe International Bridge team to develop an artistic installation for the façade of the maintenance building at the Canadian Port of Entry. This commission will welcome travellers, showcasing positive imagery and inspiring conversation. Here are some quick facts on the artistic design and installation process. 

A key feature of the Gordie Howe International Bridge project is the inclusion of a Community Benefits Plan. Launched in June 2019, the Community Benefits Plan reflects community priorities and includes two components, the Workforce Development and Participation Strategy and the Neighbourhood Infrastructure Strategy.

The Gordie Howe International Bridge requires the installation of 216 stay cables. The installation process for each pair can take two-to-five days and involves multiple steps as described below.

The Gordie Howe International Bridge will have the longest main span of any cable-stayed bridge in North America. Critical to its design is the incorporation of 216 stay cables that serve two purposes -- they deliver the weight of the entire structure to the tower and, through tension, maintain the bridge deck’s stability and placement.

At the Canadian Port of Entry (POE), underground utility installations are ongoing across multiple areas of the 53 hectares/130 acre site, with grading and paving underway in some areas.

The Windsor-Detroit gateway is one of the busiest commercial land border crossings on the Canada-US border with over one-quarter of total bilateral trade crossing the Detroit River. The Gordie Howe International Bridge project is designed for end-to-end system connectivity, providing a seamless route between the two countries’ interstate and interprovincial roadway systems.

The Gordie Howe International Bridge project is a once-in-a-generation undertaking. Not only will the project deliver much-needed transportation improvements for international travellers, it will also provide jobs and opportunities for growth to the Windsor, Ontario and Detroit, Michigan region and includes features that make this project truly distinctive. A key project element is the inclusion of a Community Benefits Plan.

The Neighbourhood Infrastructure Strategy of the Community Benefits Plan includes a commitment to provide an annual investment allowance for community organizations located in or serving Sandwich/west Windsor or Delray/Southwest Detroit residents for a five-year duration from 2020 – 2024. Applications for funding ranging from $1,000 to $25,000* are accepted on an annual basis for proposed initiatives like events, programming and infrastructure improvements that will benefit the neighbourhoods closest to the project.  

Windsor-Detroit Bridge Authority (WDBA), responsible for the delivery of the Gordie Howe International Bridge project between Windsor, Ontario and Detroit, Michigan, is seeking community feedback on service offerings and facilities through an accessibility lens via an online survey. Feedback from the survey will be used to support further development and improvements to WDBA’s Accessibility Plan.