The good news is work remains steadily ongoing for the Gordie Howe International Bridge project, but the bad news is likely completion of the project is now targeted for the middle of August 2025, according to a financial analyst studying the project.

The massive agreement for the $5.7-billion bridge project between the Canadian government and project’s contractor — a consortium of companies known as Bridging North America — includes a contractual opening date at the end of 2024.

BNA is comprised of ACS Infrastructure Canada Inc., Fluor Canada Ltd. and Aecon Concessions which would each face substantial monetary penalties with their financial institution backers for each day late beyond the originally scheduled completion date.

Due to construction delays caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and other issues, an analyst’s report by S&P Global Ratings released more than a year ago initially estimated a completion date being April 25, 2025.

But another updated S&P report completed two months ago obtained by the Star now points to an even further extended delay which instead pushes the estimated opening date to the middle of August 2025.

The Howe bridge project includes a six-lane cable-stayed bridge, inspection plazas on both sides of the border and new three-kilometre link in Detroit to the I-75 freeway.

BNA has formally requested relief from the contracted project completion date from the Windsor-Detroit Bridge Authority, which is overseeing construction on behalf of the Canadian government.

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