Windsor, Ontario — Every day, hundreds of millions of dollars in trade cross the Windsor-Detroit corridor, making it the busiest international land border crossing in North America. The Gordie Howe International Bridge will be a vital economic link between Canada and the U.S. — generating billions of dollars in economic activity for decades to come.
Canada and Michigan have now reached an agreement to open the Gordie Howe International Bridge on July 27, with the support of the U.S. Government. The bridge will be a major economic driver in the region and will also provide options for commuters, tourists, and businesses.
“After years of planning, partnership, and construction, the Gordie Howe International Bridge will soon be opening – providing a new connection for the region, while strengthening one of the world’s most important trade corridors,” said Gregor Robertson, Minister of Housing and Infrastructure and Minister responsible for Pacific Economic Development Canada. “This nation-building project is a testament to what Canada can accomplish when we come together with a shared vision. Our gratitude goes to all the staff, workers, partners, and community members who were involved. The Gordie Howe International Bridge will create new opportunities, strengthen our economy, and bring economic benefits on both sides of border for generations to come.”
A product of sustained collaboration over the past decade, the bridge will strengthen North American supply chains, support manufacturing, and improve the movement of essential goods.
Spanning the Detroit River between Windsor, Ontario and Detroit, Michigan, the six-lane, cable-stayed bridge features a main span of nearly 2,800 feet, the longest of its kind in North America, and extends approximately just over 1.5 miles. The crossing also includes modern ports of entry on both sides of the border equipped with advanced screening and border management technologies, creating one of the most advanced and secure land border crossings in North America.
To support this opening and ensure that benefits are felt on both sides of the border, Canada and the United States have agreed to a series of cooperative measures focused on toll governance and transparency, as well as investments in the region, including through the establishment of a 15-year economic development fund tied to a portion of profits from bridge operations.
Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer called the bridge is a “testament to the enduring partnership between Michigan and Canada.”
“The Gordie Howe International Bridge has always been a great deal for our state,” Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer said. “Thousands of Michigan workers built this critical bridge, which will speed up auto production, lower costs, ease traffic, strengthen agriculture, and give people on both sides of the border better-paying jobs and brighter futures. I’m proud to have fought for its opening and congratulate my partners who have worked on this issue alongside me for years.
The Windsor-Detroit Bridge Authority will also work collaboratively with the Government of the United States on toll-rate adjustments, seeking concurrence for certain non-market related toll changes.
The opening of the Gordie Howe International Bridge will not only be an important moment for the region, but for Canada, as we work to strengthen one of the continent’s busiest transportation corridors, improve the flow of people and goods, increase the resilience of North American supply chains, and support economic growth and good-paying jobs.
Source: https://www.corpmagazine.com/industry/business/gordie-howe-bridge-finally-set-to-open-2/
