Departmental Plan 2020-21
Status Report on Transformational and Major Crown Projects


Status report on transformational and major Crown projects

General information for the Gordie Howe International Bridge
Project name Gordie Howe International Bridge
Description

Development of a new crossing over the Detroit River between Windsor, Ontario and Detroit, Michigan.

The project consists of the construction of the following: A new six-lane cable-stayed bridge; a new Canadian Port of Entry; a new U.S. Port of Entry; and a new interchange connecting the U.S Port of Entry and Interstate 75 (I-75). Canadian, Michigan and U.S. governments are directly involved. The Canada-Michigan relationship is governed by a Crossing Agreement, signed in 2012. Infrastructure Canada is the lead department for the Government of Canada, but procurement and project oversight are the responsibility of a Crown corporation, the Windsor-Detroit Bridge Authority, established specifically for this purpose in 2012. The project is delivered through a public-private partnership (P3).

The Windsor-Detroit trade corridor is the busiest commercial land border crossing between Canada and the United States and currently relies on the 91-year-old privately owned Ambassador Bridge. A new crossing is required to handle forecast traffic demand and to provide redundancy.

Project outcomes The Project is designed to achieve the following substantive objectives:
  • Provide new border crossing capacity to meet increased long-term international trade and travel demand;
  • Improve system connectivity to enhance the continuous flow of people and goods;
  • Improve operations and processing capabilities at the border; and
  • Provide alternative and secure crossing options (i.e., network redundancy) to mitigate risks of any disruptions or blockages of crossing facilities in the region.
  • Design and build a new border crossing with a life expectancy of X years.
Industrial benefits

The investment in new border infrastructure will provide positive economic impacts. The project will deliver significant transportation improvements for international travellers and provide jobs and opportunities for growth to the Windsor-Detroit region. Ancillary benefits of these jobs are expected to result in increases in consumer spending, as personal income and company profits improve in the region.

Additionally, the project will provide significant opportunities for local businesses to participate in construction- related aspects of the project’s implementation.

Transportation

This project will improve not only the efficiency of the border crossing in the region, but will also provide direct highway connections, thereby reducing costs associated with shipping, greenhouse gas emissions and other pollutants resulting from idling vehicles. The project will provide additional capacity at the busiest commercial border crossing for decades to come.

Economic

Given the significant interdependency of the Canadian and American economies, a new bridge is required to ensure that traffic at the border flows efficiently, with predictable international supply chain logistics, over the lifespan of the new crossing.

Security

Border inspection agencies in both countries are working with project partners to ensure that the proposed border processing facilities meet future trade,travel demand and security requirements at the border crossing. The Ports of Entry are being developed in consultation with the Canada Border Services Agency and the United States Department of Homeland Security, Customs and Border Protection Branch. It is crucial to provide sufficient areas for primary inspection-lane booths and on-site secondary inspection of people and goods.

With over a quarter of Canada/U.S. trade crossing at the Windsor-Detroit border, keeping the trade system open and flowing efficiently is critical to ensuring both country’s economic prosperity. It is equally critical to protect the border and our two nations against potential threats to our safety and security.

Sponsoring department Infrastructure Canada
Contracting authority Windsor-Detroit Bridge Authority (WDBA)
Participating departments Canada Border Services Agency, Canadian Food Inspection Agency, Environment Canada, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Public Services and Procurement Canada, Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada, Justice Canada, and Transport Canada
Prime contractors Private partner
Bridging North America
35 Prospect Ave, Windsor, ON
N9C 3G3
Major subcontractors N/A
Project phase The project is currently in the second year of its six-year construction phase.
Major milestones
Environmental assessment concluded November 2009
Canada-Michigan Crossing Agreement signed June 2012
Establishment of Windsor-Detroit Bridge Authority October 2012
Bridge to Strengthen Trade Act enacted December 2012
Presidential permit for construction issued April 2013
U.S. Coast Guard permit issued May 2014
Appointment of the CEO and Board of Directors of the Windsor-Detroit Bridge Authority and the members of the International Authority August 2014
Acknowledgements with the State of Michigan signed February 2015.
Launch of the P3 Procurement process July 2015
Canadian Early Works contract start August 2015
Selection of the preferred proponent July 2018
Financial Close September 2018
Official start of construction October 2018
Community Benefits Plan June 2019
Progress report and explanation of variances
  • On July 5, 2018, Windsor-Detroit Bridge Authority announced the selection of Bridging North America as the Preferred Proponent to design, build,
  • On September 28, 2018, Windsor-Detroit Bridge Authority and Bridging North America announced that they had signed a fixed-priced contract. The fixed-priced contract is valued at $5.7 billion.
  • On June 14, 2019, Windsor Detroit Bridge Authority and Bridging North America released a Community Benefits Plan for the Project which will be delivered by Bridging North America over the course of the construction phase. The plan consists of a Workforce Development and Participation Strategy and a $20M ($10M each in Detroit and Windsor) Neighbourhood Infrastructure Strategy that includes significant benefits on both sides of the border.
  • The bridge is scheduled to be in service by the end of 2024.
General information for the Samuel De Champlain Bridge Corridor Project
Project name Samuel De Champlain Bridge Corridor Project
Description

The Samuel De Champlain Bridge Corridor Project includes the replacement of the 3.4 kilometre Champlain Bridge, the 500 metre Île-des-Soeurs Bridge and the widening of the federally owned portion of Highway 15 to a six-lane capacity. The Project is being delivered as a public-private partnership (P3).

Project outcomes
  • Maintain the safety and efficiency of the Corridor;
  • Foster sustainable development and urban integration within the Montreal area;
  • Improve the flow of people and goods in the Montreal area;
  • Improve the safety of users through modern design aspects;
  • Design and construct the Samuel De Champlain Bridge and Ile-des-Soeurs Bridge with Life Expectancies of 125 Years; and,
  • Design and construct the public transit corridor and Highway 15 that meet engineering standards.
Industrial benefits The Project will foster economic growth by improving connections across road systems and ensuring the continuous and safe flow of people and goods. This crucial corridor provides benefits for the regional economy and for Canada as a whole. The Samuel De Champlain Bridge is one of the busiest bridges in Canada with traffic estimated at over 40 million vehicles per year. It is a major Canada–United States trade corridor, handling an estimated $20 billion of international trade and 11 million transit commuters per year.
Sponsoring department Infrastructure Canada
Contracting authority Public Services and Procurement Canada
Participating departments Public Services and Procurement Canada, Justice Canada, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Environment and Climate Change Canada
Prime contractors

Private partner
Signature on the St. Lawrence Group
2251, rue de Cannes-Brûlées
LaSalle, QC H8N 3G1

Technical Advisor – Owner’s Engineer
Arup Canada Inc.
1 Place Ville Marie, Office 3270
Montréal, QC H3B 3Y2

Major subcontractors Independent Engineer
Stantec & Ramboll
300–1080 Beaver Hall Hill
Montréal, QC, H2Z 1S8
Project phase In 2019–2020, the Private Partner will achieve substantial completion of the Samuel De Champlain Bridge Corridor Project. The project team will oversee the construction and manage agreements with external entities.
Major milestones
Signature of Project Agreement with the Private Partner and beginning of construction June 2015
Negotiations begin to move forward on a toll–free bridge November 2015
Opening of the new Île-des-Soeurs Bridge November 2018
Scheduled completion of the construction of the Samuel De Champlain Bridge June 2019
Scheduled completion of the construction of the Corridor October 2019
Progress report and explanation of variances
  • The construction cost for Canada was estimated between $3 billion and $5 billion. In 2015, the Government of Canada confirmed that the project cost was $4.239 billion.
  • In June 2015, the Government of Canada entered into a 34 year contractual agreement with the Private Partner, Signature on the Saint–Lawrence Group. The private partner is responsible for carrying out the design, construction, financing, operation and maintenance work for the project.
  • In April 2018, following delays in the construction schedule due to challenges related to the transportation of oversized pieces and strikes that affected the Quebec construction sector, the Government of Canada reached an agreement with the private partner in the amount of $235 million. This agreement set the delivery date of the Samuel De Champlain Bridge to December 21, 2018, covering additional actions required, and ended the lawsuit filed by the private partner in Quebec Superior Court.
  • Additional delays to the construction schedule took place over the 2018 construction season. It was later announced that the Samuel De Champlain Bridge would be in service no later than June 2019.
  • The Samuel De Champlain Bridge opened on June 24, 2019 for traffic going to Montreal and on July 1, 2019 for traffic going to the South Shore. The multipurpose path was opened on December 23, 2019.
  • The completion of the construction of the remainder of the Corridor is now expected in 2020.