The Gordie Howe International Bridge Project, an engineering feat that symbolizes cross-border cooperation and sustainable development, won the “Best Large-Scale Project” award at the 2023 Brownie Awards.
Organizer: Canadian Brownfield Network (CBN) and Actual Media, Inc. The Brownie Awards recognise outstanding achievements in brownfield redevelopment across Canada. In 2023, the awards recognised a range of projects, from community-led initiatives to large-scale infrastructure undertakings like the Gordie Howe International Bridge.
Through meticulous planning, sustainable infrastructure design and a tradition of ongoing community engagement through public-private partnerships, this monumental project achieved a triple environmental milestone and has forever changed the landscape of Windsor, Ontario and Detroit, Michigan.
Vision for the Gordie Howe International Bridge Project
The Gordie Howe International Bridge is more than just a bridge: it represents a once-in-a-generation, $5.7 billion public-private partnership (P3) that will transform several Canadian brownfield sites into landmarks of progress.
With a total length of 853 metres and towers of 220 metres, the bridge will be the longest in North America and the 10th longest in the world. The ambitious scope and scale of the project include: Windsor-Detroit Bridge Authority (WDBA) Bridging North America (BNA), Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT), and various other stakeholders.
The Gordie Howe International Bridge is designed as a single-span structure with six lanes for vehicle traffic and a multi-use walkway for pedestrians and bicycles. The bridge has a clear span of 853 meters with no submerged piers and unobstructed traffic underneath.
The Canadian port of entry spans 53 hectares and the US port of entry spans 60 hectares, making them one of the largest ports of entry in North America.
The bridge will connect Highway 401 in Ontario with Interstate 75 in Michigan, providing a seamless cross-border transportation link. The project also includes local road improvements, including new road and pedestrian bridges, road widening and reconfiguration of interchange ramps to accommodate increasing traffic volumes.
Notable accomplishments related to brownfield redevelopment include:
- The project strategically acquired all of the land (mostly brownfield) needed for the Canadian Port of Entry (POE) and bridge.
- The majority of the civil engineering works have been completed, with extensive repairs and due diligence required during both the design and construction phases.
- This is a P3 benchmark project showcasing an innovative approach to capital financing for economic and ecological restoration.
Canadian Land Acquisition, Remediation and Due Diligence
The Canadian POE is approximately 130 acres (53 hectares) and the Canadian Bridge Lands is approximately 54 acres (22 hectares), the majority of which consists of brownfield land, most notably a former coal-fired power plant and associated coal ash dump. Brownfield redevelopment environmental measures implemented for land acquisition, design and construction include environmental site assessment, inspection, investigation, mitigation, demolition, cleanup activities, monitoring, sampling, security, frequent stakeholder meetings and reporting. Controlled contamination specific to the Canadian component includes coal tar/ash, foundry waste, slag, petroleum, VOCs, PCBs, heavy metals, underground storage tanks, railroad ties, tires, rubble piles, buried construction debris, asbestos and solvents.
As part of early work activities prior to P3 construction, the Windsor-Detroit Bridge Authority (WDBA) excavated approximately 215,000 cubic meters (m3) of coal ash-affected soil and stored it in engineered stockpiles with a boundary layer and vegetated clean cap in 2018 to enable brownfield redevelopment. Additionally, WDBA performed underground obstruction management, including the decommissioning of several abandoned exploration bedrock wells that were under artesian conditions. Portions of the site, including the bridge site, were capped with clean fill as a risk management measure (RMM) in preparation for Bridging North America (BNA) to begin construction.
Clayton Serreles, WDBA's senior director of environmental affairs, explained that throughout construction, the project continues to utilize innovative technology to track soil volumes on and off-site, and since 2015, all soil management has followed evolving Ontario Surplus Soil Guidelines with the goal of maximizing on-site soil reuse.
“In total, the project has reused approximately 25,000 m3 of soil on-site and sent approximately 120,000 m3 off-site for beneficial reuse since BNA began construction in 2018,” said Celeres. “Electronic constraint maps are shared across the project to identify items such as permit conditions, groundwater and soil quality to help construction crews ensure appropriate management.”
A catalyst for responsible local development
The construction of the Gordie Howe International Bridge is expected to create thousands of jobs in Ontario and Michigan and increase the mobility and resilience of the Windsor-Detroit Trade Corridor, supporting the Canadian and U.S. economies and providing economic benefits to local businesses and communities.
Once opened, the bridge is expected to create permanent jobs for its operation and maintenance, further contributing to economic growth in the region.
Originally scheduled for completion in November 2024, the project faced unprecedented challenges due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Different regulations in the U.S. and Canada, combined with the complexities of large-scale construction, led to the completion date being revised to September 2025.
Despite these setbacks, the project team managed to keep delays to a minimum, demonstrating the resilience and commitment of all involved.
As a testament to the project's community focus, the WDBA has extended the Gordie Howe International Bridge Community Benefit Plan by one year, allocating an additional $3 million for community investment in Sandwich, West Windsor, Delray and Southwest Detroit.
“We have adopted a robust risk management strategy to safeguard the financial viability of the project. Our financial plan includes mechanisms to address unforeseen contingencies, ensuring the project continues to thrive in the long term,” adds Mr. Celeres.
As it prepares to open in 2025, the bridge is sure to become an iconic landmark and a testament to the power of innovative infrastructure development to transform communities and foster international cooperation.
When completed, the Gordie Howe International Bridge project will be a high-performance, sustainable building and infrastructure project designed with resource and cost efficiency in construction and operations, with a focus on green building and infrastructure strategies and processes, including the integration of products, components and systems that improve building performance and significantly reduce energy consumption.
For more information on the progress of the Gordie Howe International Bridge, click here.
For more information about the Brownie Awards and how to nominate your project for 2024, visit Brownie Awards.
Note: Nominations made by August 30th will be entered into a lottery.
Reya Shreya Rai is an editorial intern at Environment Journal. She is a writer and a student of contemporary journalism at Centennial College.
Featured image credit: WDBA.