The Windsor-Detroit Bridge Authority (WDBA) has delayed bid deadline by six months to receive detailed proposals for the US$2.5-billion Gordie Howe International Bridge PPP between Detroit, Michigan, and Windsor, Ontario.

The deadlines for technical and financial proposals have been extended to March 2018 and May 2018, respectively.

WDBA issued the RFP in November 2016 to three shortlisted proposers:

- 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 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).

The bridge 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.