Anew bridge between the U.S. and Canada is on the verge of being completed after workers this week installed the temporary beams that will connect the two decks over the Detroit River.
With only 85 feet remaining—the width of an official NHL rink—the two sides of the Gordie Howe International Bridge are expected to connect by the end of the month after nearly six years of construction. The span, set to become the longest cable-stayed bridge in North America, will link Detroit with the city of Windsor, Ontario upon completion.
“Achieving the bridge deck connection is monumental in the progress of the Gordie Howe International Bridge project,” said Charl van Niekerk, CEO of the Windsor-Detroit Bridge Authority (WDBA), which led the construction.
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In the coming weeks, crews working on the $4.8 billion project will finish installing a 49-foot segment on the U.S. side before moving on to the mid-span closure. Once connected, the bridge deck will span more than half-a-mile, making it the longest main span of any cable-stayed bridge in North America and the tenth longest in the world.
Unlike a suspension bridge with its curved main cables “suspended” between support towers, a cable-stayed bridge uses straight cables that connect directly from the tower to the bridge deck. Cable-stayed bridges have become popular because they are significantly faster and cheaper to build.
Designed by architecture firm AECOM, the Gordie Howe will include six lanes for car traffic, as well as a bicycle and walking path. At its highest point, the structure will rise 151 feet above the Detroit River.Source: Newsweek
