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The Bridging North America consortium, which comprises affiliates of ACS Group and Fluor, has been named Preferred Proponent by Windsor Detroit Bridge Authority to design, build, finance, operate and maintain the Gordie Howe International Bridge, which will connect Canada and USA.

The project is valued at over CAD4.0 billion (US$3.05 billion). The consortium will design and construct a new international bridge between Windsor (Canada) and Detroit (United States), as well as the ports of entry in each country. The bridge will link Interstate 75 (I-75) and Interstate 96 in Michigan with the new extension of Highway 401 (Rt. Hon. Herb Gray Parkway) in Ontario.

The Windsor-Detroit corridor is one of the main and most congested international corridor in North America and develops a fundamental role in the industry growth of both countries, especially in the automobile sector.

The six-lane (three per direction), 2.5km cable stayed bridge will cross the Detroit River. With a main span of 850m, it will be one of the longest in North America and one of the largest in the world. The consortium will operate and maintain it for 30 years.

The project also includes the construction and maintenance of the Canadian Port of Entry (53 hectares) and the US Port of entry (68 hectares) including all the buildings to control the vehicles and pedestrians in the respective sides of the border and construction works (without maintenance) on the I-75.

ACS Group is participating in the project through affiliates ACS Infrastructure (Iridium) and Dragados. The former holds a 50% share in the concessionaire and in the operations, maintenance and rehabilitation venture, while the latter leads the construction joint venture and holds a 50% share as well.

In providing new border crossing capacity, the project is intended to meet increased long-term international trade and travel demand, supporting the national, regional and local economies on both sides of the Canada-US border. 

Commercial and financial close are expected by the end of September 2018, with early works to begin this summer.