Gordie Howe International Bridge Closer To The Final Connection

Photo: Gordie Howe International Bridge

A big step in the completion of the Gordie Howe International Bridge has been completed: all six temporary bracing pieces have been installed to hold the deck in alignment.

Several key stops remain:

• Engineers physically measure the gap again. An exact measurement ensures a perfect fit when installing the components for the mid-span closure.
• Install two structural steel edge girders. The first edge girder is bolted to the US side. Workers then use lock-up devices and temporary jacks to achieve correct alignment. Finish bolting the same edge girder to the Canadian side. The sequence is repeated for the second edge girder.
• Remove temporary closure beams and wind struts.
• Install the remaining components for the mid-span closure. This includes nine redundancy girders, two-floor beams, 12 precast panels and 12 soffit panels. Unlike
• The other segments, the mid-span closure does not require stay cable installation.
• Install concrete precast panels and complete bolting of all mid-span closure components.
• Perform a global survey on the entire structure again, re-stress stay cables as needed and stitch concrete precast panels.
• Remove the remainder of the temporary bracing (transverse cranks) and remove deck cranes.

When the final steps are completed, the bridge will be the longest span of any cable-stayed bridge in North America that is now connected.

While this completes the connection, it does not mean the bridge ready for use.

A substantial amount of work is still needed, including the re-stressing of stay cables, post-tensioning of the deck and installing electrical, fire suppression, drainage systems, barriers, signage, lighting, deck paving and pavement markings and completing the multi-use path.