First 1,000 days shows significant progress to the Gordie Howe International Bridge Project
It has been one thousand days since the start of construction on the Gordie Howe International Bridge, and the work is near completion.
The towers that will bear the weight of an 850 metre-long cabled stayed bridge, the largest in North America is well underway.
“We’re at 140-foot elevation right now. We’re going to go to 720 feet total when all is said and done. So where you see the catwalk up top, is where the traffic is going to be driving when the job is finished,” says project manager Michael Hatchell.
The first thousand days includes:
- Completion of all design work
- Earthworks
- Utility work
- Start and completion of the Perimeter Access Road at the Canadian Port of Entry (POE)
- Earthworks and utitlity work at the US POE
- Demolition and start of reconstruction of three bridges
- Completion of the tower foundations
- Start of construction of the bridge towers
Construction began on Oct. 5, 2018 with official construction costing $5.7 billion.
Construction of the Gordie Howe International Bridge in Windsor, Ont. on Thursday, July 8 2021. (Rich Garton/CTV Windsor)
“We’ve been going back and forth on both sides, a little bit of a competition who can get higher, faster,” says Matchell. “Canada was ahead, I think the US is ahead by one lift right now, but it goes back and forth.”
During the first 1,000 days, three million hours have been logged by nearly 4,000 workers.
There were 140 workers who caught COVID, but due to strict health and safety protocols, none were caught on sight, and no time was lost due to outbreaks.
“We’re still fighting through some of the challenges, the pandemic being the biggest one but Michael and I are committed to that working relationship to get this project done by 2024,” says Windsor- Detroit Bridge Authority CEO Bryce Phillips.
He says the project is on target to estimated timelines and remains on budget.
More information on the first thousand days of construction can be found here.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
'One of the single most terrifying things ever': Ontario couple among passengers on sinking tour boat in Dominican Republic
A Toronto couple are speaking out about their 'extremely dangerous' experience on board a sinking tour boat in the Dominican Republic last week.
What Canadians think of the latest Liberal budget
A new poll suggests the Liberals have not won over voters with their latest budget, though there is broad support for their plan to build millions of homes.
opinion Why you should protect your investments by naming a trusted contact person
Appointing a trusted person to help with financial obligations can give you peace of mind. In his personal finance column for CTVNews.ca, Christopher Liew outlines the key benefits of naming a confidant to take over your financial responsibilities, if the need ever arises.
Teacher shortages see some Ontario high school students awarded perfect grades on midterm exams
Students at a high school in York Region have been awarded perfect marks on their midterm exams in three subjects – not because of their academic performances however, but because they had no teacher.
'My stomach dropped': Winnipeg man speaks out after being criminally harassed following single online date
A Winnipeg man said a single date gone wrong led to years of criminal harassment, false arrests, stress and depression.
Doctors combine a pig kidney transplant and a heart device in a bid to extend woman's life
Doctors have transplanted a pig kidney into a New Jersey woman who was near death, part of a dramatic pair of surgeries that also stabilized her failing heart.
Photographer alleges he was forced to watch Megan Thee Stallion have sex and was unfairly fired
A photographer who worked for Megan Thee Stallion said in a lawsuit filed Tuesday that he was forced to watch her have sex, was unfairly fired soon after and was abused as her employee.
Ottawa injects another $36M into vaccine injury compensation fund
The federal government has added $36.4 million to a program designed to support people who have been seriously injured or killed by vaccines since the end of 2020.
An Ontario senior thought he called Geek Squad for help with his printer. Instead, he got scammed out of $25,000
An Ontario senior’s attempt to get technical help online led him into a spoofing scam where he lost $25,000. Now, he’s sharing his story to warn others.