The Ambassador Bridge was built long before Dave Yonka was born, but soon his children will be able to say their father played a role in building the Gordy Howe International Bridge.
Yonka describes the children’s reactions when they learned they were one of several truckers carrying concrete beams that would form a road across the Detroit River. “These parts are set into a frame[currently under construction]and concrete is poured over it. Each cargo weighs about 56,000 pounds and has to be lowered by crane.
Dave Merrill agreed.
“These cranes in use are huge.
But it’s not just the Canadian side that’s busy.
Most Michigans are aware of a bridge being built, but unless you’ve traveled along the southwest Detroit coastline, you’re probably unaware of the progress being made on the Canadian and American sides that are being built at the same time. I haven’t noticed.
What we have seen so far is amazing.
“It’s amazing how big it is,” said Merrill. “When you step back and look at the tower, it’s kind of mind-boggling.”
huge structure
Formal construction of the Gordy Howe International Bridge project began in the fall of 2018, but given the project’s scope and long construction period, it can face a number of challenges.
So far, however, things are going well, according to the authorities managing the large-scale project.
“We remain committed to opening the bridge to traffic by the contract date at the end of 2024,” said Heather Grondin, vice president of corporate affairs and external relations for the Windsor-Detroit Bridge Authority (WDBA). “The pandemic presents an unexpected challenge.
It was also difficult to keep traffic flowing along the corridor while getting around Detroit’s Interstate 75 area. However, unlike many other projects launched before the pandemic, there have been no problems with his chain of supply.
Instead, construction is well underway for more than 7,600 individuals working for Bridging North America, WDBA’s private sector partner responsible for the design and construction of what will be the longest main span of any cable-stayed bridge in North America. is. 10th longest in the world. This project has won awards on everything from design to labor.
If you’re driving on Interstate 75, you can already see the Michigan Tower.
When completed, it will be approximately 722 feet tall, rivaling Detroit’s tallest building, the GM Renaissance Center’s 73-story center tower.
What you see now is the jumping form that workers use while building towers. Recognizing the bridge as a joint venture and a source of pride, workers decorated the temporary structure with artwork such as American bald eagles and Canadian maple leaves.
Another detail about the bridge that hockey fans will appreciate is the fact that the shape of the tower was inspired by the curvature of a hockey stick in a slap shot. This is a nod to its namesake Gordy his Howe.
Both towers will be built on the shoreline to minimize traffic disruption on the busy river during and after construction, with the main portion of the bridge crossing the Detroit River.
These are just a few of the design details that indicate the scale of the project that will be completed in the next two years.
Other amazing facts:
• Expenditure: $5.7 billion
• Construction period: 74 months
・Operating period: 30 years
• Span between two towers: 2,798 feet
• When completed, the Gordy Howe International Bridge will be among the top five longest bridges in North America.
• Clearance from water: 138 feet
• Width of the bridge: 6 lanes, 3 to Canada, 3 to the US, 123 feet including sidewalk (11 feet wide) where travelers can walk or cycle across the bridge.
• Bridges vary in color from white to dark grey, and feature high-power LED lighting that illuminates the bridge for miles when viewed from land, water, or air.
• Also a US and Canadian Port of Entry (POE) under construction along with a bridge: The Canadian POE will sit on 130 acres and, when completed, will include a Main Building adorned with artwork representing Canada’s First Nations and 24 acres. It features 133,881 feet of space. of trees, flowers and other landscapes.
• Canada’s POE will have 16 toll booths and 22 inspection lanes, making it Canada’s largest border port.
• US POE spans over 167 acres with 326,335 feet of building space, 100 feet of cushioning and 30 acres of landscaped vegetation meandering along public walkways. US POE will be one of the largest ports of entry in North America. There are 36 primary inspection lanes.
Ease of travel
Macomb County Director of Planning and Economic Development Vicki Lowinski said this is a good thing for the county.
As it stands, the Ambassador Bridge straddles one of the busiest trade routes in North America, with nearly $400 million in goods crossing it each day. This represents approximately 25% of total annual trade between the United States and Canada.
Once the new bridge is complete, trade is expected to grow as businesses throughout Macomb, Oakland, Wayne and St. Clair counties build on business relationships in Ontario and the rest of Canada.
“Before the pandemic, we were in conversations with a number of Canadian companies looking to expand,” Rowinski said. “We are currently resuming conversations with our defense and aerospace suppliers.”
They want to expand their US footprint to include an office in Southeast Michigan. It provides easy access to facilities such as the US Army Tank Vehicle and Ordnance Command (TACOM), the US Army CCDC Ground Vehicle Systems Center (GVSC), and the US Army Reserve. Research programs such as those conducted at centers in Southfield, or at Wayne State University and other designated research schools in the state, the University of Michigan and Michigan State University, including Oakland University.
The opening opens up new possibilities for trade.
“The ease of travel expected when the Gordy Howe International Bridge is completed will undoubtedly help facilitate relations with our Canadian counterparts,” said Lowsinski, adding that congestion awaits parts. He said it could also affect the production of businesses in Macomb County, where they are located.
Having a separate port of entry also makes life a little easier for the millions of truck drivers who carry cargo across borders.
“I really hope things get better,” said Yonka, who has repeatedly been stuck in traffic on the Ambassador Bridge. “Last summer I sat in the sun for three hours.
Then I have to make up for lost time, which is very stressful.
The Gordy Howe International Bridge provides highway-to-highway connections on both sides of the border. Those arriving in Canada exit directly onto State Highway 401 on their way to major cities such as Windsor, Toronto, Ottawa and Montreal. Numerous road improvements, including wider roads at major intersections, to allow people entering the United States to not only have easy access to Interstate 75, but also to allow transportation trucks to make full turns without interruption. You will see a sophisticated design with
“We’re really looking forward to its completion,” said Merrill. “It gives you more options.”
history in the making
The new bridge will also bring some competition to Ambassador Bridge, a privately owned bridge built in 1929.
According to the Detroit Historical Society, funding for the $23.5 million bridge was provided by Joseph A. Bower. At the time of its construction, the Ambassador Bridge was the world’s largest suspension bridge, surpassed two years later by the George Washington Bridge over the Hudson River.
The Bower family maintained control of the bridge until 1979. The bridge was then purchased by Detroit’s Central Cartage Company. This is Gross his point owned by the late Manuel “Matty” Moroun of his Shores, whose heirs now run the company after he died in July at the age of 93. doing. 2020.
Moroun was openly opposed to the new bridge and had plans to expand what was already in motion around the former Ambassador Bridge, but lost the battle in favor of the state-owned bridge.
Merrill said the border crossing would reduce border congestion and wait times for everyone traveling between the two countries, as well as reduce costs for those involved in international trade. .
Commenting on the expected impact on commercial, tourism and other aspects of cross-border travel, Merrill said: “More choice is good for everyone.
Little Merrill remembers taking the family to Windsor for the annual 4th of July fireworks display. Having another bridge could shorten the travel time. Canadian and US travelers can also choose her POE depending on their destination.
“Now, when you want to see the Red Wings play for the Toronto Maple Leafs, you can go to Gordy Howe Bridge,” Merrill said. “How cool is that?”
For more information, please visit wdbridge.com.
To follow the progress of the Gordie Howe International Bridge, follow WDBA on Twitter. twitter.com/GordieHoweBrgFacebook (facebook.com/GordieHoweBridge) or LinkedIn (linkedin.com/company/wdba-apwd).
