WDBA Gordie Howe International Bridge

Bridging North America, a partnership of Fluor, ACS Infrastructure Canada and Aecon Group Inc., is the private-sector partner selected to design, build, finance, operate and maintain the CAD$5.7 billion (approximate US$4.4 billion) Gordie Howe International Bridge project for Windsor-Detroit Bridge Authority (WDBA).

When completed, the bridge will be the longest cable-stayed bridge in North America.

Client's Challenge

The Gordie Howe International Bridge project includes a bridge and border crossing spanning the Detroit River and connecting Detroit, Michigan, U.S., and Windsor, Ontario, Canada, by linking Interstate 75 and Interstate 96 in Michigan with the new extension of Highway 401 (Rt. Hon. Herb Gray Parkway) in Ontario.

Fluor's Solution

Fluor, ACS Infrastructure Canada and Aecon Group Inc., led the development phase of the project and will hold the prime contract. This is the second Fluor and ACS partnership project in the Windsor-Detroit area. Fluor and ACS recently delivered, and are currently maintaining, the Rt. Hon. Herb Gray Parkway in Windsor, Ontario, that will connect to the Gordie Howe International Bridge.

The scope also includes building new, state-of-the-art ports of entry on both the U.S. and Canadian sides of the Detroit River as well as improvements to existing infrastructure in both Michigan and Ontario. Early works started in the summer 2018, and financial close was reached on September 28, 2018. The project broke ground on July 17, 2018 in Detroit for early works and held a construction start event on October 5, 2018 at the future Canadian port of entry.

In November 2019, Bridging North America won gold for Project Financing in the 2019 National Awards for Innovation and Excellence in Public-Private Partnerships. The award was presented by the Canadian Council for Public-Private Partnerships at its 27th annual conference in Toronto.

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Conclusion

A Fluor partnership was selected to design, build, finance, operate and maintain the Gordie Howe International Bridge project. Fluor, ACS Infrastructure Canada and Aecon Group Inc., will operate and maintain the facility for 30 years to performance standards that will be established by WDBA following completion.