Shovels in hand for start of Gordie Howe bridge construction

CTA: The Canadian Trucking Alliance (CTA) was proud to be part of the ground-breaking ceremony marking the official start to construction of the long-awaited Gordie Howe International Bridge.

Full scale construction is set to begin later this year on the six-lane, 2.5 km long cable-stay bridge between Windsor and Detroit. Officials expect it to be completed and open to traffic by 2022 or 2023.

“With over 2.6 million trucks a year crossing between Windsor and Detroit, carrying $1.6 million in trade per minute, today’s ceremony paves the way for a brighter trading future for Canada and its largest trading partner,” said CTA Chair Scott Smith.

The addition of the Gordie Howe Bridge, with its modernized infrastructure and processing, will expand trade capacity and accommodate future trade growth. The project also includes connecting the border to major expressways, eliminating congestion and delays as trucks no longer have to travel through the City of Windsor to and from North America’s busiest border crossing.

“With the construction of the Gordie Howe, the outlook for investment in the Canada-US supply chain looks brighter as our trade routes become even more efficient, secure and modernized,” added Smith.

CTA president Stephen Laskowski joined Amarjeet Sohi, Canadian Minister of Infrastructure and Communities, US Ambassador to Canada Kelly Craft, and Michigan governor Rick Snyder, among other civic leaders, at the milestone event.
Laskowski took the opportunity to commend the Government of Canada for its leadership.

“During these current trade tensions, let’s not lose sight of the fact that without the Government of Canada assuming all financial responsibility for the construction of this bridge, we may not have had today’s ground-breaking ceremony,” said CTA president Stephen Laskowski. “Ottawa’s leadership is benefiting citizens and businesses on both sides of the border, especially those who reside in the 30 US states whose largest trading partner is Canada. The construction of Gordie Howe Bridge is a symbol of the strength of the Canada-US relationship.”