'It shouldn’t be a guessing game': 2024 deadline to open Gordie Howe Bridge could be at risk
Construction is humming along at the Gordie Howe International Bridge, with support pylons looming large over West Windsor, more approach bridge deck sprouting by the day and buildings budding from the ground.
“One of the most significant achievements was moving from the individual towers to now moving toward the single pylon that's being built. And you can now see that very clearly on both sides of the border,” said Heather Grondin, the vice president of corporate affairs and external relations with the Windsor Detroit Bridge Authority.
When the Canadian government inked the deal with contractor Bridging North America, the bridge was slated to open in 2024.
But that deadline may be in jeopardy.
Bridging North America is the private sector consortium contracted by the federal government to build the $5.7 billion bridge.
Project CEO Michael Hatchell told the media last week he doesn’t expect North America’s largest cable-stayed bridge to be done until 2025, echoing a report from S&P Global that suggests work may slide past the agreed-upon deadline.
Bridging North America reps were not available for comment Tuesday.
“We’re still working toward those the contracted completion date of end of 2024. We're holding our contractor, Bridging North America to that date, and they're continuing to work toward it,” said Grondin.
Windsor-West MP Brian Masse said he would not be surprised if there’s a delay.
“The border authority as well as the minister need to be clear and consistent with Canadians about these timelines,” he said. “It shouldn't be a guessing game. There's investment at stake here.”
Masse said any delays will cause additional grief for Sandwich Town, the host neighbourhood of the project.
He’d like to see any contractual penalties associated with the delay reinvested into the community.
“The people in Sandwich Town, West Windsor and South Windsor and other places don't need to pay for them to get away from the deal that they shook hands on,” said Masse. “That's why we bought insurance. That's why we paid a premium. And that's why we deserve to actually follow through with the contract.”
Grondin said there are a number of steps in place.
“If there's, for some reason, they're not able to meet that contracted date, that would be subject to protracted discussions,” Grondin said.
“We're not at that point. There has been no agreement to change date, and we are very committed to doing everything possible to hit 2024.”
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
More than 115 cases of eye damage reported in Ontario after solar eclipse
More than 115 people who viewed the solar eclipse in Ontario earlier this month experienced eye damage after the event, according to eye doctors in the province.
Toxic testing standoff: Family leaves house over air quality
A Sherwood Park family says their new house is uninhabitable. The McNaughton's say they were forced to leave the house after living there for only a week because contaminants inside made it difficult to breathe.
Decoy bear used to catch man who illegally killed a grizzly, B.C. conservation officers say
A man has been handed a lengthy hunting ban and fined thousands of dollars for illegally killing a grizzly bear, B.C. conservation officers say.
B.C. seeks ban on public drug use, dialing back decriminalization
The B.C. NDP has asked the federal government to recriminalize public drug use, marking a major shift in the province's approach to addressing the deadly overdose crisis.
OPP responds to apparent video of officer supporting anti-Trudeau government protestors
The Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) says it's investigating an interaction between a uniformed officer and anti-Trudeau government protestors after a video circulated on social media.
An emergency slide falls off a Delta Air Lines plane, forcing pilots to return to JFK in New York
An emergency slide fell off a Delta Air Lines jetliner shortly after takeoff Friday from New York, and pilots who felt a vibration in the plane circled back to land safely at JFK Airport.
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau on navigating post-political life, co-parenting and freedom
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau says there is 'still so much love' between her and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, as they navigate their post-separation relationship co-parenting their three children.
Last letters of pioneering climber who died on Everest reveal dark side of mountaineering
George Mallory is renowned for being one of the first British mountaineers to attempt to scale the dizzying heights of Mount Everest during the 1920s. Nearly a century later, newly digitized letters shed light on Mallory’s hopes and fears about ascending Everest.
Loud boom in Hamilton caused by propane tank, police say
A loud explosion was heard across Hamilton on Friday after a propane tank was accidentally destroyed and detonated at a local scrap metal yard, police say.