The accolades continue for the Gordie Howe International Bridge project.
Windsor-Detroit Bridge Authority (WDBA) has been recognized with the 2020 P3 Award for Environmental, Social and Governance Performance.
It is a new award from P3 Bulletin that recognizes an organization’s policies and their benefits for stakeholders, operators, users and the wider community.
The Gordie Howe International Bridge project includes a comprehensive environmental program that addresses over 450 conditions identified in the bi-national environmental assessment process. It also includes a Community Benefits Plan that creates opportunities to enhance economic, social and environmental conditions. The plan includes $20 million in direct community investments including trail connections, road and park improves, home repairs, arts and culture initiatives and a contribution to a wild-life eco-passage.
Both plans were developed as a result of hundreds of consultation meetings with Michigan and Ontario residents, Indigenous Peoples, business owners as well as community and municipal leaders.
The P3 Awards recognize and reward the best in Public-Private Partnerships (P3) throughout the Americas. Entries in 18 categories are judged by a panel comprised of more than 80 industry professionals representing both the private and public sectors.
The judges praised WDBA and the Gordie Howe International Bridge project for its breadth of efforts to improve the communities of Sandwich and Delray, in which it is operating. The judges also praised the delivery of a wide range of end-user and community benefits.
“We are honoured to be acknowledged by P3 Bulletin with its first ever Environmental, Social and Governance Performance of the Year award,” says Bryce Phillips, the CEO of Windsor-Detroit Bridge Authority. “WDBA has placed a high priority on the environmental, sustainability and social components of the Gordie Howe International Bridge project recognizing that in addition to a new bridge, we can generate further positive outcomes and opportunities for the Windsor-Detroit region.”
The Gordie Howe International Bridge is one of the largest infrastructure projects in North America. The project involves not only the construction of what will be the longest cable-stayed bridge in North America but two of the largest Ports of Entry for a land border crossing and a connection to I-75 in Michigan.
The Canadian and US Port of Entry facilities are designed to meet LEED v4 Silver rating and the bridge and Michigan Interchange are designed to meet Envision Silver rating, both of which will ensure longevity while minimizing environmental impact.
This is not the first time the Gordie Howe international Bridge project has been recognized by P3 Bulletin. At the 2019 awards ceremony, the Gordie Howe International Bridge project was named Best Road/Bridge/Tunnel Project and WDBA won the Government Agency of the Year award, presented to a government agency that has provided exemplary project leadership in promoting innovative deal structures and timely, efficient delivery of infrastructure projects in Canada, the United States or Latin America.
