The groundbreaking on the Canadian side of the new Gordie Howe International Bridge is not expected until the fall, but on Tuesday there will be a ceremony in Detroit to mark the start of the project.
"On the Canadian side we've had the opportunity to do significant work," says Windsor-Detroit Bridge Authority spokesman Mark Butler. "We haven't had that opportunity on the U.S. side because we were still doing the acquisition of properties. We are now at the point where we have most of the properties that we need to actually start work on the U.S. side."
Minister of Infrastructure and Communities Amarjeet Sohi will join Michigan Governor Rick Snyder for the event at the corner of South St. and Rademacher St. in Del Ray.
Earlier this month, the Windsor-Detroit Bridge Authority announced it had chosen the consortium Bridging North America to design, build, maintain, and operate the new crossing.
It also announced the bridge would be a cable-stayed design with views of downtown Detroit.
Right now, the authority is working on a costing analysis of the project with the aim of releasing an up-to-date financial estimate in September.
"We're working with them [Bridging North America] now to reach what's known as financial close at the end of the September, and following that we will be doing a project groundbreaking at that time," says Butler.
Canada is building the border plazas on both sides of the border and the bridge itself. The cost will be recouped through tolls over the next 30 years.