The Windsor-Detroit Bridge Authority released it’s first look at the Gordie Howe International Bridge, which will span the Detroit River.
The authority says will be the longest cable-supported bridge in North America. It will have towers from which cables support the bridge deck in what will resemble a spider web. Its length– more than 900 yards— and the towers will rival the height of the Renaissance Center.
Bridging North America was chosen from the three teams of finalists to build and then operate the bridge.
A final contract is expected to be signed this fall. Cost estimates have ranged from $2 billion to $4 billion.
Site work is set to begin later this month.
The new bridge is expected to be open to traffic by 2020. It will have 6 lanes of traffic and a bike lane. It will connect to I-75.
The authority says workers on the bridge construction will come from both sides of the border.