This crossing is the largest and most ambitious binational border infrastructure project along the Canada–United States border. It includes a new six-lane bridge across the Detroit River, associated border inspection plazas, and connections to the freeway systems in Ontario and Michigan. This project will provide a new alternative crossing for this trade corridor.
The Canada-Michigan Crossing Agreement, signed in June 2012 by Canada and Michigan, provided a framework for the construction, financing, operation, and maintenance of the new publicly owned bridge. The agreement called for the establishment of both a crossing authority, known as the WDBA, to deliver, procure, and fund the project through a P3 and an international authority to oversee the project procurement and the compliance with the agreement.
Both the formation of the WDBA (a Canadian Crown corporation) and the international authority were announced in July 2014. The first phase of construction, including .construction of a perimeter access road at the Canadian Port of Entry (POE), utility relocations and advance fill placement, was ongoing in 2016.
In addition to the early site works that are ongoing on both the Windsor and Detroit side, Phase 1 activities for the Michigan Interchange with Interstate 75 also got underway in the fall. The completion for Phase 1 of that part of the project is schduled for winter 2020.
