Premium Associate Member Spotlight: Windsor-Detroit Bridge Authority

This article appeared in the August 2025 issue of MiMfg Magazine. Read the full issue and find past issues online.

Michigan exported $27.5 billion in goods to Canada in 2024 — 42 percent of the state’s total goods exports — which illustrates the vital importance of efficient importing and exporting options.

After 25 years of work between Canada and the United States, Michigan will see a second international bridge crossing between Detroit and Windsor. Delivered through a public-private partnership (P3) between Windsor-Detroit Bridge Authority (WDBA) and Bridging North America (BNA), the Gordie Howe International Bridge is anticipated to be completed in the fall. The bridge will have a major impact on Michigan manufacturers that transport goods to Canada by not only providing another access point but also incorporating advanced technology to impact commercial traffic flow.

“In speaking with manufacturers, they want a border transportation system that is efficient and allows them to save time and money throughout their journey — starting with logistics managers easily managing accounts and having the latest information for route planning,” says Heather Grondin, WDBA Chief Relations Officer.

“The Gordie Howe International Bridge project will positively impact the flow of traffic and goods through the key Windsor-Detroit corridor by addressing the regional transportation needs of redundancy, capacity, system connectivity and improved border processing,” she adds.

According to the WDBA, the new bridge will provide the following:

• Direct connections to I-75 in Michigan and Highway 401 in Ontario, which will help to ensure a robust supply chain and prevent stop-and-go traffic
• Six lanes for vehicular traffic, a 12-foot path for pedestrian traffic and an extra-wide lane for oversized vehicles, as well as a full-width paved shoulder that could be used if a vehicle becomes inoperable, helping to further reduce the possibility of traffic backups

Gordie Howe International Bridge Facts

• The six-lane Gordie Howe International Bridge is about 1 1/2 miles long.
• The Gordie Howe International Bridge has the longest main span of any cable-stayed bridge in North America and is the 10th longest in the world.
• The U.S. Port of Entry includes 36 primary inspection lanes, 30 commercial secondary inspection bays and 72 parking spaces for transport trucks.
• The Michigan interchange covers 1.8 miles with interchange ramps connecting to the U.S. Port of Entry, four new road bridges and five new pedestrian bridges over I-75.
• The height of the Gordie Howe International Bridge rivals that of the RenCen.
• Separate passenger lanes and commercial lanes at the ports of entry
• Dedicated areas at both ports of entry to process hazardous materials, as well as animal pens to support processing of livestock and refrigeration units for perishable goods

The bridge also will include on-site inspections as needed with the U.S. Customs and Border Protection Agency, Food and Drug Administration, Department of Agriculture or the Fish and Wildlife Service, as well as two bays featuring technology for rapid imaging of larger vehicles.

In addition to the clever construction of the bridge and its ports, much of this traffic efficiency can be attributed to the bridge’s state-of-the-art Intelligent Transportation System (ITS). Dynamic signage will assist border officers in managing lane operations and enable them to adjust passenger lanes to commercial lanes to meet real-time traffic volumes.

“These features will allow the bridge to meet the needs of manufacturers, eliminating traffic backups while ensuring an efficient crossing experience,” Grondin says.

The second international bridge in Detroit is nearly complete and manufacturers in Michigan, and particularly the Detroit area, can expect to be able to utilize it soon with the hope of reaping its many benefits.

Mr. Hockey: A Connection Between Two Countries

Photo Credit: Hockey Hall of Fame

One man will forever be known as Mr. Hockey, and the bridge connecting Canada and the United States is the perfect symbol of how he lived his life.

As a Canadian who played for the Detroit Red Wings for 25 seasons, Gordie Howe’s legacy has a special significance in Windsor and Detroit. Known as one of the Top 3 greatest professional hockey players of all time, Howe led the Red Wings to four Stanley Cup championships and is the only player to play professional hockey in five different decades. As fierce as he was on the ice, Howe’s legacy of community building, courageousness and approachability is as iconic as the hat trick named after him.

The name for the new bridge was chosen by former Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper and discussed with former Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder. A formal announcement of the name occurred in May 2015, about one year before Howe passed away at the age of 88.

The form of the tower in the cable-stayed design for the bridge is inspired by the curvature of a hockey stick in a slap shot — a nod to the legend. Howe family members have attended many different events and celebrations for the project, including a special ceremony in July 2024 when Howe’s sons, Marty and Murray Howe, celebrated the connection of the bridge deck.

Windsor-Detroit Bridge Authority is an MMA Premium Associate Member and has been an MMA member company since December 2024. Visit online: gordiehoweinternationalbridge.com.