Windsor, Ontario and Detroit, Michigan, USA
Now open to traffic, the Gordie Howe International Bridge stands as one of the most ambitious infrastructure projects realized in North America in a generation.
Developed by the Windsor-Detroit Bridge Authority (WDBA) and delivered by Bridging North America (BNA), the crossing spans the Detroit River between Windsor, Ontario, and Detroit, Michigan, creating a transformative new gateway between Canada and the United States.
Strengthening the resilience, capacity, and long-term reliability of one of the world’s busiest and most strategically important international trade corridors, the bridge provides vital redundancy for cross-border movement while supporting future economic growth on both sides of the border.
Following more than a decade of planning, design, and construction, the bridge now enters service as a defining work of twenty-first-century infrastructure.
Designed by architect Erik Behrens and AECOM, the bridge transcends its role as a transportation link, elevating mobility infrastructure as civic architecture and merging structural innovation, visual elegance, and public identity into a singular international landmark.
As the longest main-span cable-stayed bridge in North America, the structure spans 853 meters between its two towers and extends approximately 2.5 kilometers in total length.
The crossing strengthens one of the world’s most important trade corridors while creating a dramatic new presence on the skyline of both cities.
“This project gave us the opportunity to redefine what major infrastructure can be,” says architect Erik Behrens.
“Rather than viewing the bridge solely as a transportation asset, we approached it as a civic monument, a piece of public architecture that would become part of the cultural identity of two nations.”
Named after the legendary Canadian-born Detroit Red Wings hockey player Gordie Howe, the bridge honors a sporting icon revered on both sides of the border.
The form of its twin towers subtly draws inspiration from Howe’s enduring legacy, with the graceful curvature of the tower legs evoking the sweep of a hockey stick at the moment of a slapshot, a poetic gesture embedded within the bridge’s monumental silhouette.
The design achieves a synthesis of engineering ingenuity and architectural refinement. Its aesthetic character emerges from the extraordinary slenderness of the gently curving deck, which appears to float effortlessly across the river.
Supported by fan-shaped arrays of stay cables, the composition conveys a remarkable sense of lightness and transparency. Rising 220 meters above the water, the sculpted towers form majestic gateways that propel the deck across the international boundary, framing dramatic views while establishing a powerful and unmistakable identity.
Every utility system was carefully integrated and concealed to preserve the purity and clarity of the architectural expression.
“Infrastructure operates at the scale of cities, and with that comes a responsibility to contribute positively to the public realm,” says Behrens. “Our ambition was to create a bridge that feels timeless, elegant, and uplifting, a structure whose beauty is inseparable from its performance.”
The bridge’s visual dynamism is expressed through a sophisticated interplay of form, light, and movement.
Twin arrays of white stay cables create a constantly shifting moiré effect as drivers, cyclists, pedestrians, and observers move through the landscape, imparting a sense of kinetic energy and sculptural depth.
By day, the bridge responds subtly to changing perspectives, weather, and light conditions. By night, it transforms into a luminous civic landmark and a work of public art.
A bespoke lighting installation by celebrated artist Douglas Coupland animates its silhouette, extending its presence beyond infrastructure and into the cultural life of the region.
Guided by the engineering leadership of AECOM’s Chief Bridge Engineer Steve Stroh and realized through the expertise of hundreds of engineers, constructors, fabricators, and specialists, the bridge stands as a remarkable achievement in multidisciplinary collaboration.
Delivering the longest cable-stayed main span in North America required exceptional innovation, precision, and perseverance. Despite the demanding safety, security, and operational requirements of an international border crossing, the structure maintains an uncompromised architectural clarity.
Designed for performance, sustainability, and longevity, it marries innovative design with enduring value and is projected to serve future generations for at least 125 years.
“Architecture has the ability to transform infrastructure from a functional necessity into a lasting civic presence,” reflects Behrens.
“Now that the bridge is open and carrying traffic, it is immensely rewarding to see it performing its essential role while also contributing to the public realm and the identity of the region. Ultimately, the measure of its success will not be the distance it spans, but the sense of connection, belonging, and shared identity it creates.”
As vehicles, cyclists, and pedestrians cross this new international gateway, the Gordie Howe International Bridge takes its place among the world’s most significant contemporary bridges.
More than a crossing between two nations, it is a place of connection between communities, cultures, and shared futures.
Project: Gordie Howe International Bridge
Architects: AECOM
Lead Designer: Erik Behrens
Lighting Artist: Douglas Coupland
Lighting Design: RBLD
Contractor & Delivery Partner: AECON, ACS Infrastructure Canada Inc., Fluor Canada Ltd.
Client: Windsor Detroit Bridge Authority (WDBA)
