THE FREIGHTER MANITOWOC makes its way down the Detroit River on December 29, past ongoing construction work on Canada's Gordie Howe International Bridge in Detroit. The second bridge connecting Detroit and Canada over the Detroit River won't open to traffic until the fall of 2025, months later than expected, officials said. (Daniel Mears/Detroit News via AP)
DETROIT (AP) — A second bridge connecting Detroit and Canada over the Detroit River won't open to traffic until the fall of 2025, months later than expected, officials said Thursday.
Officials cited construction disruptions in the U.S. and Canada related to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Gordie Howe International Bridge, named after a Canadian who played ice hockey for the NHL's Detroit Red Wings, began construction in 2018 and was most recently scheduled to be completed in 2024.
The target is now September 2025, but the bridge deck should be completed this year.
“Our project team is pleased that the impact on the construction schedule is limited to just 10 months beyond the originally agreed completion date.” said Charl van Niekerk, executive director of the Windsor-Detroit Bridge Authority.
The project has a price tag of C$6.4 billion (US$4.79 billion), down from C$5.7 billion (US$4.27 billion).
The Howe Bridge will join the privately owned Ambassador Bridge as the second bridge connecting Detroit and Windsor, Ontario.
The Ambassador Bridge is considered the busiest border crossing between the United States and Canada, carrying 25% of all trade between the two countries. It plays an important role, especially in automobile manufacturing.
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