Work on the Gordie Howe International
Bridge project progresses with millions
of dollars in contract awards
Canadian Design and Construction Report staff writer
Windsor-Detroit Bridge Authority (WDBA) and its part-
ners are kicking off the 2017 construction season with
phase two of the preparatory activities at the Canadian Port
of Entry (POE). Three contracts have been awarded for high
voltage cabling and accessories, transmission and distribu-
tion line relocation works totalling approximately $86 mil-
lion, WBDA says in a news release.

“The second stage of preparatory works is another step
in delivering Canadian and U.S. sites that are ready for con-
struction to our eventual private sector partner,” said
Michael Cautillo, the WBDA’s president and chief executive
officer. “The more work we complete now, the more quickly
our partner will be able to begin construction after financial
close.” The contracts have been awarded to Prysmian Cables
and Systems Canada Ltd. for cable and accessories; Valard
Construction LP for transmission lines relocations; and
AMS, a joint venture of Amico Infrastructures Inc. and Mid-
South Contractors Ltd. for distribution line relocation. The
utility relocations as part of this work will focus on the Hydro
One power corridor that supports Ontario’s power grid.

The site is also the location of the future Canadian POE
overhead lines that need to be relocated. Many of these
overhead lines will be moved underground and some con-
nected onto new transmission towers. Through these con-
tracts, these overhead lines will be relocated underground
and the manufactured cables placed in concrete encased
duct banks.

In addition to working closely with Hydro One, WDBA
will work with West Windsor Power to relocate high-voltage
transmission lines that are being impacted by the project.

Undertaking this work at this time will ensure that the
Canadian POE site will be ready for the private sector part-
ner chosen to build the bridge.

12 – June 2017 — The Canadian Design and Construction Report
Bridge construction is expected to begin in the summer
of 2018, project board members announced at the WDBA
annual meeting at the end of April.

The WDBA expects to select a private contractor by May
or June of 2018 and construction will begin shortly after,
Cautillo said.

“When we bring our private sector partner on board ... I
believe they’re going to start work on the entire site both
on the Canadian and U.S. side and with a focus initially on
the bridge itself,” he said.

“When the private sector contractor comes on board,
both sites will be available and construction can start.”
The authority is still pursuing acquisition of property
needed for construction on the U.S. side.

It has funded the acquisition of 351 Detroit properties,
but has only obtained 60 per cent of the land needed on the
U.S. side, Cautillo said.

Some of the remaining land is owned by competitor
Manuel “Matty” Moroun, owner of the Ambassador Bridge,
who has been doing everything he can to thwart the bridge
construction, because it would end his bridge’s crossing
monopoly. Canada will cover the cost of building the $2.1 billion
bridge, plus a $250 million customs plaza on the U.S. side.

Michigan’s share of the cost is to be repaid in the form of
toll collections.