Project faced delays due to unforeseen conditions and the COVID-19 pandemic
The $5.9-billion Gordie Howe International Bridge, a 1.5-mile cable-stayed span linking the cities of Windsor, Ontario, and Detroit, is nearing completion, with its opening now expected sometime in 2026.
“The project team is progressing well toward construction completion of the Gordie Howe International Bridge as soon as early 2026,” said Heather Grondin, chief relations officer for the Windsor-Detroit Bridge Authority (WDBA), in an email.
Grondin said the exact opening date will depend on the outcome of ongoing quality reviews, testing, and commissioning, all needed to prepare the new border crossing, which is significantly larger than the existing one.
Construction began in 2020, with completion originally targeted for 2024, but the design-build consortium Bridging North America, which includes a design-build team of FlatironDragados, Fluor and Aecon, faced delays due to the COVID-19 pandemic and unforeseen conditions within the Michigan Interchange on the U.S. side, according to a previous ENR report.
“We are currently focused on commissioning and testing to ensure we identify as many potential issues as possible before opening,” Grondin said.
“We are also giving all border agencies and operating teams sufficient time to prepare to run this new, modern land border crossing between the U.S. and Canada, she added. «When it comes to the complexities of new international border crossings, taking the time to do it right is time well spent.”
Commissioning work is ongoing at the Canadian Port of Entry, where crews are testing 16 toll lanes, including overhead signage, barrier gate reliability, payment systems, and training programs for toll booth operators.
Since the bridge deck was connected in summer 2024, crews have focused on final installations, including electrical, fire suppression, and drainage systems, as well as barriers, fencing and line painting for the bridge’s multi-use path.
At both the U.S. and Canadian Ports of Entry, all structures are built, with teams now completing interior finishes, fencing, landscaping, and paving around 36 primary inspection lanes in the U.S. and 24 in Canada.
At the Michigan Interchange, all ramps connecting Interstate 75 to the U.S. Port of Entry are built , and workers are completing line painting and signage installation. Work also continues on the five new pedestrian bridges and local roads.
Testing has also begun on the bridge’s lighting systems, which include 164 streetlights and nearly 5,000 LED aesthetic lights. Each is being checked for accuracy, durability, and performance.
“Building, testing, and re-testing these systems is an important part of our work with partner agencies, first responders, and transportation authorities on both sides of the border as we prepare for operations,” Grondin said.
Operations and maintenance for the bridge and two ports of entry are being led by ACS Infrastructure, Fluor and Aecon.
