Windsor–Detroit Bridge Authority

The Windsor–Detroit Bridge Authority (WDBA; French: Autorité du pont Windsor-Détroit) is the Canadian federal Crown corporation responsible for administering the construction and future operation of the Gordie Howe International Bridge between Windsor, Ontario and Detroit, Michigan.

Windsor–Detroit Bridge Authority
TypeCrown corporation
Founded2012
Headquarters
Windsor, Ontario
,
Canada
Key people
OwnerGovernment of Canada
Websitegordiehoweinternationalbridge.com

History

In the early 2000s, work began on a planning a new crossing of the Detroit River between Detroit and Windsor. To coordinate the bridge's construction and management, the Windsor–Detroit Bridge Authority (WDBA) was formed in 2012, beginning work in July 2014.[1][2]

Lisa Raitt, then-Minister of Transport, appointed Michael Cautillo, Mark R. McQueen, William Graham, and Caroline Mulroney Lapham as the first board of directors of the WDBA.[3][4] Of the board members, Cautillo was appointed the authority's president and CEO and McQueen was appointed chairman of the board. While recognizing that the individuals first appointed to the body on July 30, 2014, all had strong financial expertise, the Windsor Star noted that none of them had local ties to the Windsor region.[4]

Tom Mulcair, New Democratic Party leader and then-Leader of the Official Opposition in the Canadian Parliament, noted that three of the first four appointees were donors to the Conservative Party of Canada.[5]

On January 1, 2016, retired Provincial Liberal Minister Dwight Duncan was appointed to be the interim chair of the Board.[6][7] On December 14, 2016, he was appointed to a five-year term as the Board's permanent chair.[8]

Bridge contract

In July 2015, WDBA began work procuring a consortium who would design, build and finance the construction of the bridge, as well as operate and maintain it over a 30 year period.[9]

On July 5, 2018, WDBA was announced the consortium "Bridging North America" had been awarded the contract for the bridge, using a design, build, finance, operate and maintain structure.[10] The consortium consisted of AECOM for design; Dragados Canada, Fluor Corporation, and Aecon for construction; and ACS Infrastructure, Fluor, and Aecon for operations and maintenance.[11] Following construction, Bridging North America will receive monthly payments for operating and maintaining the bridge over a 30 year period.[12]

Once the bridge is complete the WDBA will manage the bridge's operation, including setting and collecting tolls.[13]

References
  1. "Chronology". Gordie Howe International Bridge. Retrieved 2023-07-24.
  2. "DRIC bridge executive teams loaded with financial expertise, but nobody local". Windsor Star. Archived from the original on July 2, 2015.
  3. Claire Brownell (2014-07-30). "Canada, U.S. form new agency to push forward on Detroit-Windsor crossing". Financial Post. Retrieved 2015-11-01. The appointees to the Bridge Authority's board are Michael Cautillo, Bridge Authority president and CEO; Mark McQueen, chairman of the board; William Graham, director; and Caroline Mulroney Lapham, director and daughter of former prime minister Brian Mulroney.
  4. Dave Battagello (2014-07-30). "DRIC bridge executive teams loaded with financial expertise, but nobody local". Windsor Star. The bridge authority will oversee the construction, operation and maintenance of the bridge. That includes preparing the sites and managing the procurement process to select a private-sector partner that will carry out the work. The authority will also set and collect tolls.
  5. "HYPOCRISY ALERT: Mulroney-style patronage from Stephen Harper's Conservatives". New Democratic Party of Canada. 2014-07-31. Retrieved 2015-11-01. All three are donors to the Conservative Party. Perhaps as homage to the previous king of Tory patronage, Conservatives have made Brian Mulroney's daughter Caroline their latest patronage appointment.
  6. "Dwight Duncan named head of Windsor-Detroit Bridge Authority". CBC News. 2016-12-14. Retrieved 2017-01-18. Duncan was made interim leader on Jan. 1, replacing former chairman Mark McQueen.
  7. "Duncan to lead Windsor-Detroit Bridge Authority". Renew Canada. Retrieved 2017-01-18. Mr. Duncan has served as interim chairperson of the WDBA since January 1, 2016, and the new appointment is for a five-year term.
  8. "Experienced leadership selected for the Windsor-Detroit Bridge Authority". Ministry of Infrastructure and Communities. 2016-12-14. Retrieved 2017-01-18. As Chair of the Board, Mr. Duncan brings considerable experience to this important position as a result of his diverse career accomplishments in both the private and public sectors and in depth knowledge of the Windsor-Detroit region.
  9. "Chronology". Gordie Howe International Bridge. Retrieved 2023-07-24.
  10. Chen, Dalsen (July 5, 2018). "Bridging North America will build Gordie Howe International Bridge". Windsor Star. Retrieved November 19, 2021.
  11. "Bridging North America". Gordie Howe International Bridge. Retrieved March 4, 2020.
  12. "Gordie Howe International Bridge to cost $5.7B, create 2,500 jobs". CTV News Windsor. 2018-09-27. Retrieved 2023-07-24.
  13. "About the Windsor-Detroit Bridge Authority". Who We Are. Windsor-Detroit Bridge Authority. Retrieved 9 May 2016.
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