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Windsor-Detroit Bridge Authority (WDBA), a not-for-profit Canadian Crown corporation, has announced that it has issued the Request for Proposals (RFP) inviting Proponents to submit formal proposals to design, build, finance, operate and maintain the Gordie Howe International Bridge project.

The Gordie Howe International Bridge project will address four regional transportation needs at the busiest trade corridor between Canada and the United States. It will provide a new crossing option, highway-to-highway connections, modernized border processing facilities and capacity for future traffic growth. The new bridge will make it faster, simpler and safer for both people to travel and goods to flow between Canada and the United States, enhancing trade and tourism.

The 18-month RFP stage is the second phase in WDBA’s competitive procurement process to select a private-sector partner. In October 2015 we reported that WDBA received a total of  six statements of qualification for the project. Finally, the following three teams were shortlisted:

- Legacy Link Partners Team: SNC Lavalin Capital Inc., VINCI Concessions S.A.S, John Laing Investments Ltd., HDR Corp., Leonhardt, Andra and Partners (if Cable Stayed), Aas-Jakobsen (if Suspension), Alfred Benesch & Company, Golder, American Bridge Canada Company, SNC Lavalin Constructor (Pacific) Inc. (SLCP), VINCI Construction Grands Projets, Barton Malow, DRICCA (Joint Venture with Ajax Paving, Dan's Excavating, C.A. Hull Co Inc., Toebe Construction, Amico Infrastructures Inc.), SNC Lavalin Operations & Maintenance Inc., VINCI Concessions, and SNC Lavalin Security Consulting Inc.

- Bridging North America Team: ACS Infrastructure Canada Inc., Fluor Canada Ltd., Aecon Concessions, a division of Aecon Construction Group Inc., RBC Dominion Securities Inc., AECOM, Carlos Fernandez Casado S.L/FHECOR Ingenieros Consultores, S.A., Moriyama and Teshima Architects, Smith-Miller + Hawkinson Architects, LLP, Dragados Canada Inc., Aecon Infrastructure Management Inc., Turner Construction Company, Aecon O&M, a division of Aecon Construction Group Inc., DBI Services, LLC, URS Federal Services, Inc. an AECOM company

- CanAm Gateway Partners Team: Fengate Capital Management Ltd, BBGI CanHoldco Inc., EllisDon Capital Inc., Bechtel Development Company, Inc., Arup-Hatch Mott McDonald Design JV, Bergmann Associates Inc., NORR Ltd, Bechtel Canada Co., EllisDon Civil Ltd., Traylor Bros., Inc, EllisDon Facilities Services Inc., Egis Projects S.A., Roy Jorgensen Associates Inc.

The RFP sets out the conditions and specifications required to deliver the Gordie Howe International Bridge project. The Proponents will prepare and submit their binding technical and financial proposals, including a fixed price and schedule. Each proposal will then be rigorously evaluated by a team comprised of WDBA officials, partner organizations and experts. A Preferred Proponent will be identified. Subject to reaching Financial Close and to appropriate approvals, this Proponent will become WDBA’s private-sector partner.

The project involves the development of a bridge and border crossing to be constructed across the Detroit River. The bridge will connect Detroit and Windsor by linking Interstate 75 and Interstate 94 in Michigan with the new Rt. Hon. Herb Gray Parkway connection to Highway 401 in Ontario. There are the four components of the Gordie Howe International Bridge project - the Canadian port of entry, the bridge, the US port of entry and the interchange to I-75.

With traffic crossing the border anticipated to grow from 18,500 vehicles a day in 2016 to 26,500 by 2025, the bridge will address four key regional transportation and mobility needs:

• provide new border crossing capacity to meet increased long-term travel demand
• improve system connectivity to enhance the continuous flow of people and goods
• improve operations and processing capabilities at the border
• provide reasonable and secure crossing options (i.e. network redundancy).

Dwight Duncan, Interim Chair, WDBA Board of Directors

“Today’s announcement represents yet another major milestone for the Gordie Howe International Bridge project. A new border transportation system for the Windsor-Detroit gateway will make it faster, simpler and safer for both people to travel and goods to flow between Canada and the United States, enhancing trade and tourism. We look forward to hearing from the Proponents over the coming months to learn how they intend to deliver this project – a new true game- changer not just for the region, but also for Ontario and Michigan and indeed for Canada and the US.”

Michael Cautillo, WDBA President and Chief Executive Officer 

“The Request for Proposals is perhaps the single most important document that WDBA will deliver. Much progress has already been accomplished on both sides of the border and we continue to work to prepare the sites for this historic infrastructure project in advance of the construction to be undertaken by the private-sector partner. I would like to thank WDBA staff along with our Michigan and US and Canadian federal partners for the tremendous effort they have put forward in getting the project to this critical stage.”