Bridging two nations: The Gordie Howe International Bridge
Set to be complete by the end of 2024, the Gordie Howe International Bridge is now rising up from either shore of the Detroit River, soon to dominate Windsor and Detroit’s skyline and bring economic benefits to both Canada and the U.S. By Paul Adair Gordie Howe was born in Floral, Sas-
and bi-national figure that was a very
needed transportation improvements for
katchewan in 1928 and became famous
appropriate namesake for this bridge,”
international travellers, but also brings
playing for a quarter century with the
says Windsor Detroit Bridge Author-
significant economic development to the
Detroit Red Wings and winning the
ity (WDBA) spokesperson Mark Butler.
Windsor-Detroit region, and myriad fea-
Stanley Cup four times. A 23-time NHL
“Mr. Hockey was also well-known as be-
tures that truly sets this project apart in
All-Star, Howe is today considered the
ing a tenacious fighter, and this bridge
terms of scale and scope.
most complete player in hockey, the cre-
− with more than 20 years of planning
The 74-month construction project is
ator of the “Gordie Howe Hat Trick” (one
and work behind it – certainly exempli-
being delivered through a public-private
goal, one assist, and a fight), one of the
fies that.”
partnership (P3), a long-term, perfor-
greatest to ever play the game.
With construction officially com-
mance-based approach where Canada
“A proud, Canadian-born hockey play-
mencing in 2018, the Gordie Howe In-
finances the entirety of the construction,
er and having played for the Detroit Red
ternational Bridge project is much more
but the State of Michigan receives own-
Wings, which many in Windsor consider
than a bridge. It’s a once-in-a-generation
ership of their half of the project. Over
their team, Gordie Howe was a beloved
undertaking that not only delivers much-
time, Canada will be fully repaid its con-
“ Gordie Howe was a beloved and bi-national figure that was a very appropriate namesake for this bridge.” – Mark Butler, WDBA 10 PIC Magazine • June 2021
