The groundbreaking for the Gordie Howe International Bridge advance construction in Detroit, July 17, 2018 (Photo by Adelle Loiselle)The groundbreaking for the Gordie Howe International Bridge advance construction in Detroit, July 17, 2018 (Photo by Adelle Loiselle)
Windsor

Groundbreaking In Detroit For New Border Crossing

Another significant milestone has been reached in the upcoming construction on the Gordie Howe International Bridge; the groundbreaking for advanced construction on the Detroit side.

A list of dignitaries including Canada's Minister for Infrastructure and Communities, Amarjeet Sohi, Michigan Governor Rick Snyder and U.S. Ambassador to Canada Kelly Craft.

U.S. Ambassador to Canada, Kelly Craft in Detroit July 17, 2018. Photo by Adelle Loiselle) U.S. Ambassador to Canada, Kelly Craft in Detroit July 17, 2018. (Photo by Adelle Loiselle)

Both Snyder and Sohi took Craft's presence as a positive sign the Trump Administration remains behind the project, despite a recent call from the owners of the Ambassador Bridge to revoke its presidential permit.

"I think her support is a very positive sign," says Snyder. "If you look at the comments the President has made, it's all about getting this bridge built since he went into office."

In speaking before the crowd, Craft joked she had a couple of things in common with NHL Great Gordie Howe these days.

"I often relate to Gordie in so many ways," she joked with the crowd. "I love it when he said, 'I'm really just a lucky old farm boy. I remember when I came up I cut all the newspapers showing me in a Red Wings uniform just to prove to everyone that I played in the NHL.' Some days, I'm tempted to cut out the clips and send them back home too. Then again, some days not so much."

Much of the advance construction, things like moving utilities, have already been completed on the Windsor side of the new border crossing. In Del Ray, about 95% of the properties have been acquired, and Tuesday's groundbreaking marks the start of advance construction at that site.

While a few property owners were displaced in West Windsor, hundreds of homeowners had to be bought out in Del Ray. It has taken time, but Snyder says the transition has gone smoothly.

"They're excited about what's going on," he told reporters. "I think people worked hard... to do right by the neighbourhood."

Slow and steady has been the theme of Michigan's progress on the border crossing, and Snyder admits there were times when the State could have been a better partner.

"This project has been talked about for decades, and there are good people that had their heart in it for decades, and I have to acknowledge and say thank you to the country of Canada for having the common sense to pursue this, even when we did dumb things in Michigan," he said.

The Windsor-Detroit Bridge Authority plans to have the full costing of the bridge project by the end of September, at which time full construction is expected to begin. Past predictions have suggested traffic could be crossing it in 2023.

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