News Release

Windsor-Detroit Bridge Authority awards key contract for engineering work and technical advice for new bridge

WINDSOR, ONTARIO – Windsor-Detroit Bridge Authority (WDBA) today announced that following a competitive process, it has awarded a contract to Parsons Inc. for engineering work and technical advice for the Detroit River International Crossing / New International Trade Crossing (NITC) project. The contract is valued at approximately $17 million and is one of the largest technical services contracts that WDBA will issue. The contract will be up to six years in duration with significant work to be completed over the next two years.

Under the contract, Parsons Inc., as the General Engineering Consultant, will provide a range of professional engineering services to prepare the bridge project for the eventual Public-Private Partnership (P3) procurement process. The work includes project management, engineering studies, technical design, utility relocation, and development of the specifications for all components of the crossing project on both sides of the border.

Parsons Inc. is a recognized authority on bridge design and has significant experience with other Canadian P3 projects such as Highway 407 in Toronto, Autoroute 25 in Quebec, and the Port Mann Bridge in British Columbia. The firm also has considerable experience with bridge projects in the United States including the Ohio River Bridges project (Ohio and Indiana), and, as well, as the lead engineer for the John James Audubon Bridge in Louisiana – the longest cable-stayed bridge in the western hemisphere.

Parsons has assembled a team of sub-consultants to support their work. The Parsons led team totals around 36 people and includes Canadian and U.S. companies such as Morrison Hershfield Ltd., Hamilton Anderson Associates, and Kasian Architecture. The majority of the team will be working out of WDBA offices in Windsor. The firm will also be hiring local professional staff to assist with the project.

“This is an important milestone for the Windsor-Detroit Bridge Authority,” said Mark McQueen, Chairman of the Windsor-Detroit Bridge Authority. “With the selection of the General Engineering Consultant, WDBA is able to move forward in the development of the DRIC/NITC project. Parsons and their team will work closely with the border inspection agencies, Michigan and Canada as we design and eventually build the new crossing, highway interchange and inspection plazas. The new Board of Directors has taken dozens of steps to advance the project over the past six months, although there still remains much to do, particularly on the Michigan land acquisition front.”

About the Windsor-Detroit Bridge Authority

Windsor-Detroit Bridge Authority (WDBA) is a not-for-profit Canadian Crown corporation created to manage the procurement process for the design, construction, financing, operation and maintenance of the new Gordie Howe International Bridge between Windsor, Ontario and Detroit, Michigan through a public-private partnership (P3). WDBA is also responsible for project oversight. For more information on WDBA visit www.gordiehoweinternationalbridge.com and follow WDBA on Twitter at www.twitter.com/wdbabridge.

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For more information, please contact Windsor-Detroit Bridge Authority at 519-946-4859.

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