The Gordie Howe International Bridge deck nearing completion, May 14, 2024. (Photo by Maureen Revait) The Gordie Howe International Bridge deck nearing completion, May 14, 2024. (Photo by Maureen Revait)
Windsor

GHIB construction not largely impacted by trade war

The construction of the Gordie Howe International Bridge is in its final stretch.

Construction is currently focused on the points of entry, paving, and electrical work.

"We did have good construction over the winter season. A few days were pretty cold but we were still able to get work done and with the spring and summer coming it's still going to be a busy construction season for us," said Heather Grondin, Chief Relations Officer.

Over the summer months teams will be focused on putting in place the operations needed to process vehicles coming through the border along with landscape work and the completion of the multi-use trail on the bridge.

"I think for people who are watching from the sidelines it's not going to look so much like big construction like it's been the last few years. These are those smaller things, things like paving, more landscaping at the ports of entry," said Grondin.

Construction on the Gordie Howe International Bridge started in 2018. The timeline and budget were adjusted after the global pandemic delayed the project. It was originally scheduled to open in November 2024 and had a price tag of $5.7 billion.

Now construction is on track to be complete by the fall of 2025 with a $6.4 million budget.

Grondin indicated the current trade war between the two countries should not have a large impact on the overall budget.

"When it comes to things like steel, the vast majority of that work was already done," said Grondin. "We are still using some steel right now. This is some of the work that we're doing on fencing, on handrails, on guard rails. So there is still some of that work going on but we're not seeing a major impact."

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