IN PERSON ONLY!!! Gordie Howe International Bridge Public Information Meeting
Windsor-Detroit Bridge Authority
Development
Transportation
Tuesday, Dec. 5, 2023
3:00 p.m. — 6:30 p.m. EST
7744 W Vernor Hwy, Detroit, Michigan 48209 Detroit, MI 48209 (Directions)
Windsor-Detroit Bridge Authority (WDBA) and Bridging North America are holding Public Information Meetings on Tuesday, December 5, 2023, in Detroit, Michigan. The meetings will provide an opportunity to meet project representatives, hear the latest design and construction updates, along with highlights from the project Community Benefits Plan. Meetings are open-house format with presentations scheduled at 3:30 p.m. and 5:15 p.m. The presentations will be approximately 25 minutes, followed by a question-and-answer session. For more information contact: Gordie Howe International Bridge Media Relations Team 226-757-1716
Reporting
Edited and summarized by the Detroit - MI Documenters Team
Note-taking by
Jack Filbrandt
Limited time and money remain for Delray residents to apply for community benefits associated with the bridge expansion. Toll lanes and free pedestrian crossing set to open in late 2024.
Live reporting by
Amy Senese
Limited time and money left for Delray residents to apply for community benefits associated with the bridge expansion project.
amy k senese 🍉
@amysenese
👋 Detroit! Today from 3pm-6pm, I'll be live tweeting the Gordie Howe International Bridge Public Meeting on behalf of #DETdocumenters.
@DetDocumenters media partners: @BridgeDet313 @chalkbeatDET @freep @metrotimes @MichiganRadio @media_outlier @PlanetDetroit @wdet @wxyzdetroit
@DetDocumenters media partners: @BridgeDet313 @chalkbeatDET @freep @metrotimes @MichiganRadio @media_outlier @PlanetDetroit @wdet @wxyzdetroit
12:43 PM Dec 5, 2023 CST
The meeting is in person, happening at the Windsor-Detroit Bridge Authority office at 7744 W Vernor Hwy.
It's an open-house format with presentations scheduled at 3:30 p.m. & 5:15 p.m. The presentations will be approximately 25 minutes, followed by a question-and-answer session.
It's an open-house format with presentations scheduled at 3:30 p.m. & 5:15 p.m. The presentations will be approximately 25 minutes, followed by a question-and-answer session.
Those who attend will be able to "meet project representatives, get the latest design and construction updates, as well as hear progress on the Community Benefits Plan Implementation."
You can find more on the Community Benefits Plan from their website:
gordiehoweinternationalbridge.com/en/community-b…
You can find more on the Community Benefits Plan from their website:
Here's the story of the 70th family that moved from their former home close to the new Gordie-Howe Bridge and into a Detroit Land Bank home through the city’s Bridging Neighborhoods Home Swap program.
detroitnews.com/story/news/loc…
Residents in Delray directly impacted by the project are eligible for home repairs.
Residents within these boundaries are eligible:
Fort Street - I-75
Clark Av/South Clark Street to the east.
River Rouge to the west.
Detroit River to the south.
tinyurl.com/y3ntxbzn
Residents within these boundaries are eligible:
Fort Street - I-75
Clark Av/South Clark Street to the east.
River Rouge to the west.
Detroit River to the south.
That's all for now, see you at 3pm!
For meeting details, visit
detroit.documenters.org/meetings/gordi…
For meeting details, visit
I’m here at the office at 7744 W. Vernor. It’s a small storefront, with chairs set up for the presentation starting at 3:30pm. We were given question cards and a folder with construction updates for fall/winter 2023. There are easels with more information set up around the room.
It’s 3:32, more people have arrived and the first presentation has started. Spanish translation is available.
There are 4 different components to the project. The main Gordie-Howe bridge, the Michigan Interchange, the Canadian Port of Entry, and the US Port of Entry. Construction will run until the end of 2024.
First point: Customer Centricity:
The bridge will provide a system of travel that is customer-centric, easy to use and that makes traveling from point A to point B as simple as possible. People will be able to travel by bike or on foot, as well as motorized vehicles.
The bridge will provide a system of travel that is customer-centric, easy to use and that makes traveling from point A to point B as simple as possible. People will be able to travel by bike or on foot, as well as motorized vehicles.
There are international points of entry on either side for the typical international border crossing checkpoints. They have working to "find homes" for murals in Southwest that have to be moved and will be making an announcement soon about where they will be moved.
Construction is being completed on both sides of the border, with the bridge expected to connect in the middle of the Detroit River around mid-2024.
The Michigan Interchange construction is the area of the project impacting Southwest Detroit residents the most. The I-75 Interchange Configuration, noise wall construction, and Detroit traffic patterns.
There are 2 components to the Community Benefits Plan: Workforce Development & Participation and Neighborhood Infrastructure Strategy.
In 3 years, over 100 homes have participated in the Delray Home Improvement Program. This is almost complete, they are running out of funds, so they are encouraging residents to sign up if they haven’t yet completed applications.
They are taking applications for the 2024 Community Organization Investment, to support eligible organizations located or serving Sandwich/West Windsor or Delray/Southwest Detroit. Applications will be accepted until January 31st, 2024.
The Presentation is over, they will now take public comments and questions.
Q: On timing. Are all 4 components set to open at the same time?
A: The bridge and the two ports of entry will open at the same time.
The Michigan Interchange project will take a little longer to complete.
A: The bridge and the two ports of entry will open at the same time.
The Michigan Interchange project will take a little longer to complete.
The opening date was set back a bit during the pandemic, as the bridge was set to open in 2024.
It is set to open at the end of 2024, but that could change as construction moves forward.
It is set to open at the end of 2024, but that could change as construction moves forward.
That was the only question, but the woman giving the presentation suggested that people ask questions of the staff in the room. The next presentation is scheduled for 5:15 pm.
Here's the construction update on the bridge sites:
The US bridge tower reached its full height of 22 meters/772 feet and the last concrete pour on the Canadian bridge tower is currently underway.
More than half of the bridge deck construction is complete.
The US bridge tower reached its full height of 22 meters/772 feet and the last concrete pour on the Canadian bridge tower is currently underway.
More than half of the bridge deck construction is complete.
The deck over the Detroit River is approximately 253 meters/830 feet from the center of the Canadian tower and 225 meters/738 feet from the center of the US tower.
72 of 108 stay cables have been installed on the Canadian side and 74 of 108 on the US side. Construction continues simultaneously on the road deck extending inland connecting to the Ports of Entry in Canada and the US.
The bridge will feature 6 lanes:
3 Canadian-bound, 3 US-bound
kilometers / 1.5 miles with a clear span of 853 meters/0.53 miles
The bridge will also feature a multi-use path for pedestrians and cyclists which will be 3.6 meters/11.8 feet wide.
3 Canadian-bound, 3 US-bound
kilometers / 1.5 miles with a clear span of 853 meters/0.53 miles
The bridge will also feature a multi-use path for pedestrians and cyclists which will be 3.6 meters/11.8 feet wide.
Cyclists and pedestrians who want to walk or cycle across the bridge will be able to turn around if they don't want to enter Canada or Detroit.
Here are construction updates on the Ports of Entry:
All 11 buildings and structures at the Canadian Port of Entry(POE) and all 13 buildings at the US POE are under construction. Activities include roofing, masonry work, installation of equipment and underground utilities.
All 11 buildings and structures at the Canadian Port of Entry(POE) and all 13 buildings at the US POE are under construction. Activities include roofing, masonry work, installation of equipment and underground utilities.
At the US POE, construction of the 36 primary inspection lanes is ongoing. Roofing and structural steel installations are taking place on the inspection canopies, as well as work on stormwater management ponds.
At the Canadian POE, construction of the 24 primary inspection lanes and 16 toll booths is well underway.
Beam installation and deck construction is complete for return to the US overpass bridge in the Port of Entry and construction of the barrier wall is ongoing.
Beam installation and deck construction is complete for return to the US overpass bridge in the Port of Entry and construction of the barrier wall is ongoing.
Once constructed, the US Port of Entry will be one of the largest ports of entry in North America, with 36 primary inspection booths, outbound inspection facilities and commercial exit control booths.
Once constructed, the Canadian Port of Entry will be the largest along the Canada-US border with 24 inspection booths, outbound inspection facilities, and toll collection facilities for the US and Canada-bound traffic.
Here’s more on the Community Organization Investment from the information given to attendees. This initiative will provide $100,000 (CDN) in Canada and the US to community organizations. Eligible orgs can apply for $1,000 to $25,000 for events, programming or infrastructure.
Find more about the Community Organization Investment and apply for the grants on the Gordie-Howe International Bridge site:
gordiehoweinternationalbridge.com/en/community-b…
They are getting ready for the next presentation. There are 🍪🍪🍪.
Here’s where you can find the project on social media: on twitter @GordieHoweBrg
Here’s where you can find the project on social media: on twitter @GordieHoweBrg
The second presentation is underway, I will include anything I missed from the first one at 3:30, as well as any questions from attendees.
On safety: There is a No fly zone, no drone zone around the construction sites. There’s an exclusion zone around the Detroit tower to keep the site and construction workers safe.
Again, the Delray Home Improvement Program is running out of funds, so they are encouraging residents to complete applications as soon as possible. Complete application packages will be prioritized.
The presentation is finished, and they are now opening it up to questions.
#1 question about the multi-use path and how it will operate.
A: There's a lot to be considered. They want to hear more from people in the community. There will be a meeting in February & a survey.
#1 question about the multi-use path and how it will operate.
A: There's a lot to be considered. They want to hear more from people in the community. There will be a meeting in February & a survey.
Q: How will the tolls work, will they go up?
A: Tolls haven't been set yet, but will be set closer to opening day. The tolls will be "competitive."
Canada is financing the project, so the tolls are going to Canada at the beginning, but will eventually be shared.
A: Tolls haven't been set yet, but will be set closer to opening day. The tolls will be "competitive."
Canada is financing the project, so the tolls are going to Canada at the beginning, but will eventually be shared.
The meeting finished around 5:45 pm, with staff lingering to answer final questions before all the attendees left.
Before I wrap up this coverage, a few corrections:
Before I wrap up this coverage, a few corrections:
I thought they were talking about murals that had to be moved as buildings came down in Southwest.
What they were talking about was the temporary murals commissioned by the Windsor-Detroit Bridge Authority (WDBA) that were attached to climbing systems...
What they were talking about was the temporary murals commissioned by the Windsor-Detroit Bridge Authority (WDBA) that were attached to climbing systems...
Each image is displayed on panels that are affixed to the tower crane climbing systems – temporary steel structures used to provide access for workers involved with the construction of the two massive towers that will support the bridge.
gordiehoweinternationalbridge.com/en/spotlight-c…
The tower crane climbing systems on which the murals will be displayed are temporary steel structures used to provide access for workers constructing the two massive bridge towers supporting the bridge.
As the tower cranes are extended to their final height of 822 feet, so will the artwork, making them visible from land on both sides of the border and from the Detroit River. This "jump form" system protects crews working on the towers from the elements.
macombdaily.com/2023/09/14/fin…
Local Detroit-based artist Roberto Villalobos was commissioned to create designs for the Detroit/US side, "reflective of the history and culture of the host community in Southwest Detroit."
gordiehoweinternationalbridge.com/en/spotlight-c…
The murals on the Detroit tower have already come down, they will announce shortly where these murals can be seen by the public.
Another correction or clarification to this tweet: During the break, I listened in as residents were asking questions about the pedestrian/cycling lane--someone from WDBA did say that cyclists and pedestrians would be able to turn around, but...
...it sounds like this is not final and there are still decisions to be made on this. WDBA said that there will be a meeting around this in February and the opportunity to fill out a survey, so look out for future opportunities to weigh in on this.
That concludes my coverage of the Gordie Howe International Bridge Public Information Meeting
If you find anything inaccurate in my tweets, please email documenters@outliermedia.org with the subject “Correction Request.”
For more coverage visit
detroit.documenters.org
If you find anything inaccurate in my tweets, please email documenters@outliermedia.org with the subject “Correction Request.”
For more coverage visit
And don't forget to read the latest #DETdocumenters newsletter!
us16.campaign-archive.com/?u=238ce89c289…
Agency Information
Windsor-Detroit Bridge Authority
Created in 2012, Windsor-Detroit Bridge Authority (WDBA) is a not-for-profit Canadian Crown corporation which reports to Parliament through the Government of Canada. As such, WDBA is wholly owned by the Government of Canada but is structured like a private company and operates independently from government.
WDBA was created to manage the procurement process for the design, construction, financing, operation and maintenance of the Gordie Howe International Bridge between Windsor, Ontario and Detroit, Michigan through a public-private partnership (P3). WDBA is also responsible for project oversight.