Gordie Howe International Bridge
Gordie Howe Bridge, Detroit, US – Windsor, Canada
Years in the making, the Gordie Howe International Bridge is a once-in-a-generation project connecting the U.S. and Canada. This massive undertaking required solving complex physical and regulatory challenges, relying on Amrize’s advanced materials and innovative solutions for durability and sustainability.
Summary
This bridge transforms how more than 40,000 people cross the Canada–United States border every day.
Spanning 853 meters, the Gordie Howe International Bridge is the longest cable-stayed bridge in North America.
Our innovative use of advanced technology includes robotics in cement testing and drones for capturing visual data.
Two countries. Many partners. One solution.
- High concrete durability standards meant that Amrize collaborated closely with Smyrna Ready Mix (SRM) to develop and test various mix designs, leading to a tailored OneCem® mix formulated for high performance
- Amrize worked collaboratively with Bridging North America (BNA), the generacontractor, to smoothly manage the transition to this advanced mix
- Meeting the stringent building standards of both the United States and Canada required significant coordination across teams and stakeholders.
Gordie Howe Bridge, Detroit, US – Canada Border
A bridge to the future
- Amrize and BNA prioritized sustainability by collaboratively transitioning to OneCem®.
- The application of OneCem®, an Amrize Brand, on the U.S. side of the bridge cut emissions equivalent to 80 gas-powered vehicles driven for one year — 40,000 gallons of gasoline.
- Slag cement and silica fume were added to the cement, to further enhance its environmental profile. The U.S. tower, was built with an advanced OneCem® mix delivering 100% performance with over 50% reduction in CO₂
- Spent concrete and test cylinders stockpiled on-site were crushed and reused as aggregate groundcover, making circularity further advance the build’s environmental profile
“The Gordie Howe International Bridge is more than a physical connection; it symbolizes a shared commitment for sustainable infrastructure to promote economic development, active transportation, tourism and cultural exchange.”
Gordie Howe Bridge, Detroit, US – Canada Border
The results
- The Gordie Howe International Bridge project created thousands of jobs on both sides of the border during construction and continues to generate permanent positions for the operation of the crossing.
The bridge links Windsor’s Great Lakes Waterfront Trail to Detroit’s Iron Belle Trail and Great Lakes Way. Trail users can cross the bridge via a multi-use path.
This link promotes unity, tourism, and economic growth. At Amrize, we continue to partner with builders across North America to advance how we live.
Our Brands at work for you
- OneCem®