Tuesday, June 8, 2021

Gordie Howe International Bridge over Detroit River at Detroit, MI

(Satellite, it will connect I-75 and Canada-401 north of Zug Island)
(Satellite, it makes landfall just north of Zug Island)

(Update: RoadTraffic-Technology article)

It will be a toll bridge. It sounds like Canada is the driving force behind this bridge. This bridge will relieve the congestion on the Ambassador Bridge.

The name was announced in 2015 "in recognition of the legendary hockey player, a proud Canadian who led the Detroit Red Wings to four Stanley Cup victories." [GordieHoweInternationalBridge-chronology] In addition to the bridge, the project includes large port of entries on each side to handle customs. The Canadian side will also collect the tolls.

GordieHoweInternationalBridge-project-overview
  • Cable-stayed design

  • Six-lanes: three Canadian-bound, three US-bound

  • Total length: approximately 2.5 kilometres / 1.5 miles

  • Clear span of 853 metres / 0.53 miles - the longest main span of any cable-stayed bridge in North America

  • No piers in the water

  • One approach bridge on each side of the crossing to connect Ports of Entry in Canada and the US

  • Once complete, the Gordie Howe International Bridge will be among the top five longest bridges in North America.

  • A dedicated multi-use path that will accommodate pedestrians and cyclists


GordieHoweInternationalBridge-by-the-numbers
Contract Value: $5.7b, Construction Period: 74 months

aecon
AECON led the design
It started in 2018 and the estimated completion is 2024.
"This once-in-a-generation undertaking includes a 2.5-kilometre cable-stayed bridge with six lanes (three Canadian-bound and three U.S.-bound), and two approach bridges. The project also includes a 130-acre Canadian Port of Entry and a 148-acre U.S. Port of Entry. The fixed-priced contract is valued at $5.7 billion (nominal value), which includes the design-build (DB) phase and the 30-year operation, maintenance and rehabilitation (OMR) phase. Bridging North America is a consortium comprised of Aecon, ACS Infrastructure Canada Inc. and Fluor Canada Ltd. to design, build, finance, operate and maintain the Gordie Howe International Bridge through a Public-Private Partnership (P3). Aecon has a 20 per cent interest in the equity, DB and OMR partnerships."

This is the post that taught me that the owners of the Ambassador Bridge lost their battle against a beltway bridge. (Thank goodness.) But the Moroun family fought hard to stop it. [freep]
Kevin Nelson posted
The now cold and silent blast furnaces of Great Lakes Works - Zug Island, as seen from the Gordie Howe International Crossing Bridge construction site in Windsor, Canada. #UnitedStatesSteel
James Torgeson: Neat graphics. I never realized the new bridge was going to be so close to Zug Island.
Dirk Graham: James Torgeson probably one of the reasons zug got shut down. It wouldn’t do to launch burning debris into vehicles on the bridge when the bleeders open.

MDOT, accessed June 8, 2021


Screenshot @ 0:49

Screenshot @ 0:53
[It is good that they are not doing the O'Hare people mover because that has become a disaster.]

Screenshot @ 2:05

Screenshot @ 2:07

FLUOR

I could not find this bridge project on the web site of the third member of the design-build team: Dragados Canada.

Fact Sheets

Chris Ahern Photography posted
Gordie Howe International Bridge Construction in progress.
Detroit, Michigan
Aaron Hrynyk
I just flew this not too long ago https://youtu.be/oF2wEVKXIrY

Andrew Dean Detroit posted
American Century downbound , new Gordie Howe development shown as well!

Two of the photos posted by Garry Priddle with the comment: "This tug barge combo passes by the future Gordie Howe bridge."
Karen Douglas: Help out the non residents.........where be this?
Dennis DeBruler: Karen Douglas It hasn't shown up yet on a satellite image, but I've seen in other photos that it is just north of Zug Island on the American side.
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May 2022: Lincat Photography posted two photos with the comment: "I like recording history with my photography,  in this photo is the oldest freighter on the Great Lakes the Alpena Turning into the lafarge dock, with Gordie Howe bridge which is under construction.  The second photo gives you an idea of how tall the bridge is going to be, Detroit river."
Mike Mishler shared
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1 of 3 photos posted by Lincat Photography
I caught the Viking Octantis in the Detroit river earlier in the week and got some nice shots of her as she docked with the Gordie Howe bridge in the background.
Mike Mishler shared

Sep 2022: Lincat Photography posted four photos with the comment: "The updated progress along with the murals painted on top of the towers  of the new bridge the Gordie Howe international bridge on the Detroit River.  From the MHSD cruise last weekend"
[I learned from this post that MHSD is the Marine Historical Society of Detroit.]
Mike Mishler shared
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Dec 13, 2022: Gordie Howe International Bridge posted two photos with the comment: "Check out these photos taken from the US #GordieHoweBridge site. The crane has been disassembled and reassembled on the road deck in preparation for constructing the bridge deck."
Janey Anderson shared with the comment: "Bridge Update: It will be 3 lanes in either direction, and a multi-use path for pedestrians and cyclists."
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Gordie How International Bridge posted
Construction of the #GordieHoweBridge main span is underway. Using the crane recently assembled on the road deck, the πŸ‡ΊπŸ‡Έ construction team has installed the first girder heading towards the Detroit River. The first girder on the πŸ‡¨πŸ‡¦ side is also installed.
Janey Anderson shared

Michael Chase posted
She's lookin' good!
The 70 year old Philip R. Clarke captured here this past week as she passes the new Gordie Howe International Bridge crossing between Windsor and Detroit.
Owned by the Great Lakes Fleet Inc. of Duluth, Mn.
Aerial Photography and videography by Windsor Aerial Drone Photography.   
Residential - Commercial - Industrial - Agricultural - Marine
Licensed by Transport Canada
Bruce Schneider: Not a lot of these beautiful old ships left.
Dana Bach: Wrong button. I'm pretty sure the Anderson, Callaway and Clarke are still around. The 3 triple A's. One of them is right now tied up on CN (old DM&IR) Dock 6 east side. Not sure why.
Vernon Nunn: Dana Bach yes they are.
William Mott Field: Looks like Edmund Fitzgerald.
Vernon Nunn: William Mott Field built in the same time frame.
Jack Hilbert: how long is it?
Michael Chase: Jack Hilbert 748'

Aaron Payne commented on Michael's post
Love your pic!! My brother operators and Ironworkers are going over the pond!!
Carpenters & labor’s too!

1 of 4 photos posted by Andrew Dean Detroit
The Samuel De Champlain with Barge Innovation at the Holcim Dock in Detroit.
Andrew Russell shared
 
Lincat Photography posted
The lovely Kaye Barker passing the Gordie Howe bridge on the Detroit river ( I love taking photos of the progress of the Gordie Howe bridge being built, I feel like they are history in the making photography )
Mike Mishler shared
Mike Mishler shared

Lincat Photography posted three photos with the comment:
One of the million things I love being a Michigan Maritime photographer is being in a time when I can document a bridge being built from start to finish.  The Gordie Howe International bridge is being built over the Detroit river and here is what it looks like as of last Saturday.  Included in these photos is the freighter Alpena and the saltie Harbour First ( first time seen by me).
Judy Barnes-DePeal shared
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Aaron Payne commented on the above post
 
Gordie Howe International Bridge posted
You will soon see a new configuration of the Michigan Interchange. Ramps connecting I-75 to the #GordieHoweBridge US Port of Entry are under construction. Girder installations on ramps are near completion, and prep work for bridge deck construction is taking place in some sections. Check out the final configuration below.
 
Michael Chase posted
In the near future, this new bridge crossing will forever change the landscape of Detroit - Windsor and create new photo ops for everything that floats ......
Getting the big picture......
(Our HD photos are best viewed on larger screens)
May 2023 ...Getting the big picture on the 5.7 Billion dollar project.
Aerial Photography and Videography by windsor Aerial Drone Photography.
Residential - Commercial - Industrial - Agricultural - Marine.
Licensed by Transport Canada.
Windsor Aerial Drone Photogrphy.

This is a reminder that the project is a lot more than just a cable-stayed bridge.
Gordie Howe International Bridge posted
There are 36 primary inspection lanes at the US Port of Entry. This is where Customs and Border Protection will work and process #GordieHoweBridge travelers. Check out the progress on the booths.

Before 0:45 is an introduction that basically says bridges are important. This screenshot is where information about the Gordie Howe Bridge begins. This video describes the economic issues, but not the engineering aspects.
8:23 video @ 0:45

12:12 video @ 0:45

Andrew Dean Detroit posted four photos with the comment: "Great Republic unloads at the American site of the Gordie Howe Bridge construction. Tug Patricia Hoey with Fuel Barge Warner Supply pulling along side."
Andrew Dean Detroit shared
Phil Little: The cab of that tower crane is waaay up there!
Steve Horton: If finished (and I think they are) the towers will be about 772 feet [235m] above the water. So that tower crane is well over 800 feet [244m] tall. For comparison, the Mackinac Bridge towers are only 552 feet [168m] above water (170 feet lower that the Gordie Howe towers).
Andrew Dean Detroit shared
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[So the freighter is unloading aggregate for SRM Concrete.]

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Andrew Dean Detroit posted three photos with the comment: "Saginaw and Great Republic unloading at the Gordie Howe bridge site. Mesabi Miner glides by while the Stormont prepares to dock."
Andrew Russel shared
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The Detroit Line posted
The Gordie Howe International Bridge is taking shape!

Craig Hensley Photography posted
Gordie Howe Progress
While cruising around, I decided to stop by the construction site of the Gordie Howe International bridge and see how things were progressing. Under some nice morning light and blue skies it looks like the approach spans are coming along on both the US and Canadian side. Should be interesting to see when they get the main span connected.
Detroit, MI - August 2023
 
Andrew Dean Detroit posted
Freighter Friday! Construction continues on the new Gordie Howe International Bridge - Spanning between Windsor and Detroit. Tug Dirk S. Vanenkevort pushing barge Michigan Trader by the Herbert C. Jackson on the Detroit River.
Andrew Dean Detroit shared
 
Damon Troyan commented on Andrew's post

Damon Troyan commented on Andrew's post

Damon Troyan commented on Andrew's post
 
NHL News Updates posted
Gordie Howe International Bridge is well underway.
[At first I wondered why the National Hockey Leagure cared about a bridge, And then I remembered that Gordie Howe was a Canadian hockey player.]
 
Roger Durfee posted
The upbound Kaye Barker passes the Alpena unloading cement over at Detroit on 09-15-2023. That's the massive Gordie Howe bridge being constructed above the boats. Thanks for the location info Earl!
[I wonder why a flare is active. US Steel has shut down the mill on Zug Island.]
 
1 of 6 photos posted by Andrew Dean Detroit
Arthur M. Anderson unloads at Gordie Howe International Bridge - American Side. G.L. Ostrander with Barge Integrity docked ahead of them.
Andrew Dean Detroit shared
Andrew Dean Detroit shared
Roger LeLievre shared
These are awesome!

Lincat Photography posted two photos with the comment: "Old to the new the Alpena docked under the Gordie Howe bridge  Detroit River"
Mike Mishler shared
[I'm lucky that the Lafarge cement terminal is next to the bridge and that old freighters carry cement because the old freighters attract boatnerds who include the bridge's construction.]
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Brian R Maghran commented on Mike's share
Here is the Arthur Anderson docked there.

1 of 3 phtos posted by Bret Quiroga
G.L. Ostrander under Mr Howe, Michigan side.

Andrew Dean Detroit posted
Sunrise with Gordie Howe
Sam Warner: Very prophetic with the ambassador bridge in the background.

Lincat Photography posted two photos with the comment: "Old to the new the Alpena docked under the Gordie Howe bridge  Detroit River"
Mike Mishler shared
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Mark Hewer Music & Photography posted
Gordie Howe International Bridge Nov 1, 2023. The gap is getting smaller. Sandra Bullock could almost jump this with the bus!

Bad video: 9:13, information about this bridge starts at 0:42.
Good video: 4:18. Cost is up to $5.7b. The target for opening is the end of 2024.
9:27 video, the first part is about the Ambassador Bridge. I recommend starting at 1:30.

Dec 2023: Tower completion
10:45 video @ 3:05

Gordie Howe International Bridge posted four photos with the comment:
πŸ—️ Completion of Bridge Towers #YearInReview 
Forever changing the shared skyline between Windsor and Detroit, the #GordieHoweBridge project reached new heights in 2023 with the completion of the iconic bridge towers.
The US tower reached its full height at the end of August while the Canadian tower reached its full height in December. Both had been under construction since 2019. At 220 metres/722 feet, the two impressive towers are among the tallest structures in the region.
Learn more about the tower construction in this spotlight: https://www.gordiehoweinternationalbridge.com/.../New...
Janey Anderson shared
The tower legs are 140m/460' long and the towers are 220m/722' tall. The upper part of a tower is known as the pylon head. The foundation consists of "six shafts per tower leg drilled into the bedrock to a depth of 36 metres/118 feet – the equivalent of an 11-storey building....There are 47 segments for each tower – 25 in the tower legs and 22 in the upper pylon. Each segment has an average height of 4.67 metres/15.3 feet and requires 98 cubic metres/128 cubic yards of concrete and 55 tonnes/121,254 pounds of rebar. "
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2:18 video @ 1:33
68,000 lb floor beam install on Gordie Howe International Bridge! Detroit to Windsor

The guy in the yellow vest helping to push the dolly backwards gets awfully close to being under the load. The lift was made by a MLC300. Unfortunately, the videographer focused on the beam when it was boomed out into position and did not include the crane. So we couldn't see the counterweight move back as the boom swung out. I wonder how many people have fallen and been saved by having their harness hooked up.
11:39 video @ 0:40
Lifting A 25 Ton Floor Beam | Gordie Howe International Bridge

The lift starts at this screenshot. 
5:27 video @ 4:22
Beaming with Pride | Gordie Howe International Bridge

The 25-ton beam is a fraction of the crane's 300-ton capacity. So the counterweight is not very far back on its tracks.
@ 4:30

Peter Pahl posted
Gordie Howe International Bridge. Six months progress.

Detroit Princess Riverboat posted
Steel I-Beams making their way across the river to finish the Gordie Howe bridge!
πŸ“· Darren Patrick
[It is nice to have a truck ferry nearby.]

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