Bad News From The Gordie Howe Bridge

Gordie Howe Bridge Jan 2024 Update
Happy New Year, and Welcome to the update of the Gordie Howe International Bridge Project.
My name is Bob Jones, and we have news in this update about the delayed completion date and increased cost announced this week.
Please like, share and subscribe, it’s free and supports the creation of these updates. I thank you in advance for the help.
The Gordie Howe International Bridge is a significant infrastructure project aimed at facilitating trade and travel between the U.S. and Canada, and it is expected to complement the privately owned Ambassador Bridge as a key transportation link between the two countries.
The Jump System has been completely removed from top of the Canadian tower.
The Windsor-Detroit Bridge Authority, which oversees the project for the federal government, and the consortium of contractors known as Bridging North America (BNA) announced in a joint statement on Thursday they have agreed to amend the cost and timeline of the project.
The Gordie Howe Bridge is now expected to open in late 2025, which is a delay of ten months from the previous schedule. The delay is blamed on construction disruptions in the U.S. and Canada, related to the COVID-19 pandemic.
On top of the delay, the project's initial cost of $4.4 billion was impacted by exchange rates, increased inflation, and other unforeseen circumstances, contributing to a substantial increase in the estimated cost of the Gordie Howe Bridge project.
Initially, the project was expected to cost $5.7 billion. The total price of the project is expected to rise 700 million dollars to $6.4 billion.
There's more in the video. I hope you enjoy it.
#gordiehowebridge #detroit #windsor #ambassadorbridge #detroitriver #constructionupdate #windsorontario #bobjonesrealtor

[@blauer2551]

I’m down there delivering supplies and the size of the entire project has to be seen. People think it’s just the bridge but it’s so much more.

[@bobjonesrealtor7756]

It is so much more. It looks small from the drone images. There is a lot going on all over the 130 acres it covers. This site includes inbound border inspection facilities for both passenger and commercial vehicles, outbound inspection facilities, toll collection facilities, a maintenance facility, a dedicated multi-use path for pedestrians and cyclist, road deck and ground work construction not to mention the beautification projects in Sandwich Town in Windsor and the Delray neighborhood in Detroit. Great point! Thanks for the insightful comment.

[@briancunningham1120]

@@bobjonesrealtor7756 Hi Bob, all those items you just mentioned above are most likely to have added to the cost of this project, I was wondering before about all the costs for the buildings and bridges and road works involved on the US side of this bridge, that part of a project like this is very hard to control cost wise . I also see a lot of heavy equipment sitting parked for a long time now but that might be because it could be less costly to lease for a longer time than a weekly rate, there seems to be slow progres on the decks leading off both ends of the Bridge, the girders and beams are in place but the concrete forming and placement is lagging behind, In the early 1970s I worked on the interchange on the Q E W coming into Niagara Falls we removed a large traffic circle and built all those Bridges in about 6 Months, No computers, No Hi - Vis workwear, No machines sitting around idle, No workers standing idle, Everybody smoking, but the work progresed like a well oiled machine,

[@JohnRoss1]

I imagine the service facilities are part of the hold up too. The bridge itself will be linked up in a few months. Must be funny being on the river under several thousand tons of cantilevered concrete and steel held up by a few cables 😂. Somebody drops a wrench....

[@latetotheparty184]

It is way too much expense to take on for a nation like Canada. It is a vanity project that will never make sense economically. Typical though of governments that are out of control and ready to fail that they take on their biggest projects just before collapse.

[@blauer2551]

@@latetotheparty184 It will increase commerce and alleviate traffic. The privately owned Ambassador Bridge is very old and doesn’t allow hazardous materials. It had to be done sooner or later.

[@user-wy7ml3sd2m]

I'm 75 years old and I have yet to see a big project, whether public or private, that did not take longer than expected and cost a lot more than predicted. The problem is the human failure to imagine how hard something will be to do.

[@bobjonesrealtor7756]

Your right. Seems to be runover with most large projects. Buffers are built into the big deals for possible and probable problems that happen. 700 million is a lot to be off the mark. They have some pretty smart analysts costing it out. Things happen, and problems are a given in something as substantial as this bridge. I can see it costing more, just seems a lot to me. Thanks for the feedback

[@chuckhelson3744]

Everybody knew there would be cost overruns. Period. But nobody could foresee the skyrocketing pricing on everything else, due to Covid. A doubling of everything, was just a starter. They had a pretty good handle on the costing until Fuel nearly tripled in just over a year. There’s a ….load of Truckloads already into the Bridge before Covid hit, which gave them they’re costing yardstick. Then triple that cost in approx a year. 😳 Yah !! 700 million might still come up short.

[@bobjonesrealtor7756]

All great points. Bidders all sharpen the pencils when tendering a project like this. They have to be competitive to win the deal. Covid was a wrench nobody (at least nobody at our level) could have expected. They do however understand that prices are always in the state of change for any number of reasons, and should plan for unseen events in the quote. I agree the past few years have been laden with economic change and not in a good way. I also believe you are right that 700 million may come up short. Time will tell, eh? Thanks for the insightful post.

[@dknowles60]

for being 75 you sure dont know your history, the Mackinaw bridge came in on budget and time

[@joetrey215]

​@dknowles60 Do you mean the Mackinac bridge? In which case he would have been around 11 or so and perhaps not yet watching projects.

[@oldgandy5355]

I'm looking forward to watching the insertion of the first bolt tying the two ends together. Yes, it will still be several months after that before the bridge is usable, but I'm 75 years old and understand the "unforeseen situation" involved with any project, especially the big ones. I look forward to driving across it, but at this point the best thing for me to do is "stay the heck out of the way".

[@bobjonesrealtor7756]

Lol. Hi @oldgandy5355. I hope I can catch that for you and the rest of us watching. Good idea to stay out of the way, at least until you don't have to jump the gap! :)

[@Jack908r]

I worked briefly on this project at the very start of it. The number of issues we had to work through, before shovels even hit the ground was huge. It was do able, but people don't realise the effort that goes into these mega projects, and that it never stops. The problems you need to solve just keep coming. And a lot of them have to be discussed with the client if they have potential financial or delay issues, or the regulators if they have legal implications. It's a much bigger undertaking then what you see on the surface. But it'll be worth it, as the quality will be there, making it a project Windsor can be proud of. Also, worked on the lead up Herb Gray Parkway portion. And that was complicated enough. Great fun to be a part of though. Looking forward to seeing this when its completed. So glad the Canadian govt stepped forward to get this built.

[@bobjonesrealtor7756]

Hi Jack. Cool to have worked on this project. I can only imagine the complications that run with a project like the bridge, or the parkway. Thanks for the insight! Glad to have you here.

[@ubermenschen3636]

You’re making this bridge construction more complicated than it is. First, this cable-stay bridge is not big, revolutionary, or rocket science. Many nations have cable-stay bridges - some small, others bigger. China has them by the dozens and completed each one within half of the time of the Gordi Howe and at half the cost. Michigan’s corrupt government prevented and then delayed the construction of the Gordi Howe Bridge. Without the US government corruption and bureaucracy, Canada could have funded and constructed several bridges over the Detroit River. Imagine the invigorating trade and jobs available to Detroit’s bombed-out , burnt up neighborhoods.

[@mikeskidmore6754]

With Competition from the Ambassador Bridge.. Both Bridges will have to give better service.. No More long lines waiting to cross the Bridge. My Passport expired in 2020 because I never got the Clot shot!

[@bobjonesrealtor7756]

Good for you , Mike!

[@dougcarter2271]

Its amazing that they have got this far along with the considering covid virus impact. Fortunately, the weather in 2023 cooperated with construction.

[@bobjonesrealtor7756]

Hi Doug, yeah, not a big surprise. I hope the weather stays decent.

[@user-uo7mz6es9x]

They gave the bridge a great name and I'm so delighted they chose such a wonderful human being as Gordie Howe to be the bridge's namesake. Can't wait until I can cross this bridge along with everyone else.

[@bobjonesrealtor7756]

Hi. Welcome! Yeah, I think the name fits. Everything I read about Gordie Howe is an inspiration. Thanks for the comment.

[@andrewlark1306]

They need to take all the time they need to build this massive and impressive world-class span. Be safe, build well, and don't rush. It'll all pay off in the end. The Gordie Howe International Bridge will be a huge boon to Windsor's and Detroit's economies.

[@bobjonesrealtor7756]

Right on the money, Andrew! Thanks for the comment.

[@ubermenschen3636]

7 years to build a Mickey Mouse bridge. China has built a dozen of gigantic suspension and stay-cable bridges - each completed within 5 years, max.

[@chuckg6039]

A massive project like this is almost always delayed and cost way more. Things will be fine.

[@timothychung4811]

This is not massive and what BS is spouting off from you. Look up the bridges the Chinese have done and are doing. On time and on budget EVERY TIME.

[@chuckg6039]

@@timothychung4811 This isn't China

[@skygazer858]

@@timothychung4811 I certainly wouldn't feel safe on many of the Chinese bridges. They have catastrophic failures often.

[@bobjonesrealtor7756]

you and me both. @skygazer858.

[@bobjonesrealtor7756]

I'm sure they will. Just have to wait longer.

[@jimanderson4495]

Great report. Thanks Bob

[@bobjonesrealtor7756]

Thank you, Jim. :)

[@pomfret_and_pommes_frites_6493]

6.5 billion is a fraction of the cost of hosting Olympics for a few weeks, or some crazy corporate bailouts. I say it's still a bargain, and will be useful for decades to come

[@bobjonesrealtor7756]

It was needed. You are right the cost is secondary to the benefit. Then if there are no people watching greed will dig as deep as it can, especially in government deals like this. Look at the ArriveCan App scandal. Thanks for the feedback.

[@johnkingery403]

So they want to amend the cost and timeline of the project. What a surprise!

[@bobjonesrealtor7756]

Lol. Some things we come to expect, eh? Thanks for the post.

[@jeffrey4869]

Just a mind blowing piece of modern engineering!!

[@bobjonesrealtor7756]

Couldn't have said it better, myself, Jeffery! Thanks for the feedback!

[@rottngranny2876]

Awesome thanks so much

[@bobjonesrealtor7756]

My pleasure. Glad you liked it.

[@jhicks741]

Was anyone surprised at delays and cost overruns? I am amazed at the people that project this! It is by no means easy!

[@bobjonesrealtor7756]

Hi @jhicks741. Really, when you think about the complex logistics of the whole project and the fact of making it work with different government regulations, your right. Thanks for the comment. :)

[@mikegiammaria]

Thank you.

[@bobjonesrealtor7756]

Hi Mike. You're welcome!

[@peregrine116]

Great coverage. Well done!

[@bobjonesrealtor7756]

Thank you very much for the compliment. I appreciate the support. Glad to have you here. :)

[@ronaldrondeau7870]

Thanks for the review that bridge is awsom

[@bobjonesrealtor7756]

Hi Ronald! Your more than welcome. Thanks for the compliment. :)

[@briankuhl9314]

Going to be a beautiful piece of engineering when it's done. If this is the last delay and cost overrun, not the worst we seen.

[@bobjonesrealtor7756]

Hi Brian. I agree with that statement 100%! Thanks for the post.

[@matthewmichalik9470]

What a wonderful video of our awesome new International Gordie Howe Bridge...I believe this bridge will become one of the Worlds Wonders and people will come from all over the world to visit!

[@bobjonesrealtor7756]

Hi Matthew. Thank you for the compliment. The Gordie Howe is an awesome sight. It can be seen for miles. It will be the longest cable stay bridge in North America. Thanks for the comment!

[@matthewmichalik9470]

@bobjonesrealtor7756 Thank you for your excellent videos! We love watching them!

[@williamwaldroop9603]

Thanks Bob, nice video.

[@bobjonesrealtor7756]

Hi William. Your more than welcome. Thanks for watching!

[@warrenwilson4818]

Thanks for the excellent report. Jan. 23, 2024, St. Joseph, MO, USA

[@bobjonesrealtor7756]

Hi Warren. You are very welcome. Thanks for being here. :)

[@paulzupon246]

Nice job on your reporting. Very informative. Thank you.

[@duanedrouillard2495]

Kind of negative commentary. Lots of issues with cost overruns with all massive infrastructure projects. Brighten up

[@bobjonesrealtor7756]

More than welcome, Paul. Thank you.

[@bobjonesrealtor7756]

Hi Duane. I suppose it is expected on projects this big. I think it is blaming it all on covid is the trigger in this case. jmo.

[@ChrisHplusland]

Great views Bob, better late than never

[@bobjonesrealtor7756]

Thanks, Chris!

[@dennismcmichael1656]

Thanks for providing this. I have memories of the Ambassador bridge area from the sixties and wonder if you have photos of the area that was cleared to make room for the new bridge? Was this the little Mexico section? Part of the old Fort Wayne?

[@bobjonesrealtor7756]

Hi Dennis. Not that I know of, but you have me curious. The neighborhood is Delray in the U.S. and Sandwich Town in Canada. Both areas are old and in need of regeneration. The deal for the bridge includes millions for the local neighborhoods beautification. I'll see what I can find in pictures when I have some time. Thanks for the comment.

[@artvandelay1099]

Awesome update. Thanks for putting this information out there for us. I was just asking around to see if anyone knew how the bridge was coming along.

[@bobjonesrealtor7756]

Hi @artvandelay1099. Glad it was helpful! I appreciate the comment. :) Thanks.

[@johnmaclachlan6818]

Thumbs-up !!!

[@bobjonesrealtor7756]

Thank you, John!

[@marth6271]

Nicely done, sir.

[@bobjonesrealtor7756]

Hi @marth6271. Thank you kindly!

[@adriaanboogaard8571]

Best not to rush a big job like that. It looks great now but when complete I bet it will be amazing. I'd like to visit it some day.

[@bobjonesrealtor7756]

It's awesome! History in the making. Certainly don't want a rush job on something you want to last a century or two. Hope you make it, too. Windsor is a friendly place, and Detroit is coming back into it's own with all the upgrading being done in the city. Thanks for the comment.

[@dknowles60]

but that job is taking a lot longer then it did to build the Mackinaw bridge

[@es-qf2gw]

@adriaanboogaard8571 they sure rushed everything through the design phase and built everything as cheap and poorly designed as they can!!! There are already problems with the design of the Michigan Interchange.

[@mjones8204]

It is amazing.

[@bobjonesrealtor7756]

Thanks. It really is something to see come together.

[@jamessimms415]

That crane operator has to be one of the most trusting person out there

[@bobjonesrealtor7756]

Talented, too! Imagine tons of material hanging on 700 feet of cable on a breezy day. Yikes!

[@timothychung4811]

He must trust himself and believe in his talent, for, if he doesn't, he'll go to jail. In Canada, where I live, we have to adhere to construction laws called OHS, and the Americans would have their counterpart.

[@brucerodbro7188]

Imagine how good of shape he is in. Everyday he has to climb that tower. Probably feels good to sit in the operators chair all day long. Does he just pee to the wind or is he encumbered with a jug to carry up/down🥴?

[@bobjonesrealtor7756]

Lol. Good questions.

[@ibrahimhanif8503]

I'm very excited for this bridge. First big bridge that is getting made near me in my life. Gonna driver over from Hamilton, just to see it when they open.

[@bobjonesrealtor7756]

It is a historic event not many get to witness. First time crossing will be cool. Thanks for sharing.

[@richardbeachey1444]

Thank you for your work. Is there a date estimation when the two spans will meet in 2024? To me this is a very signifcant event aside from the actual opening.

[@bobjonesrealtor7756]

Hi Richard. Your welcome. No time frame other than in 2024 was given. I'm going to do more flyovers this year so we should have a chance of capturing the final coupling of the two sides. It will be cool to see!

[@Quasihamster]

There's two laws when building something: First, it will take longer than you think. Second, it'll cost more than you ever thought possible.

[@bobjonesrealtor7756]

Hello @Quasihamster. Not always true, but certainly more often than not the way it goes. Thanks for sharing!

[@MyPromixdirt]

the increase in cost is nothing but FUCKING THIEVERY

[@bobjonesrealtor7756]

Big business at it's best. :)

[@Mithranos]

Money well spent by both countries. I look forward to crossing this beauty soon.

[@bobjonesrealtor7756]

I can't wait to cross either. Just for clarification, Canada is paying for the bridge. Canada will collect all tools for both sides until the cost of the bridge is recouped. Thanks for the comment! :)

[@jtechboy]

To be honest... +700 million for such a MEGA project.. and covid add... doesn't seem to bad. I know I know.. but.. if it were a bridge in Boston.. whew.. + 3 billion for sure there. ;)

[@bobjonesrealtor7756]

Hi @jtechboy. Canadian dollars as well! Lol. It could have been a lot more, your right. Thanks for the feedback.

[@sidclemmer4591]

Its understandable that a massive project like this is delayed, but for me it's irritating that Covid is in the excuses as a reason as this is largely an outdoor project which had no restrictions etc. but what do I know , I'm just the dumb truck driver that can't wait to see this incredible crossing open, it ain't soon enough

[@GWNorth-db8vn]

All the bits and pieces had to be made in foundries and factories, and a lot of metal working just shut down during the plague.

[@Eric-xh9ee]

I heard that you need 3 miles of space between workers to avoid getting COVID so thats probably why 😂

[@FirstLastOne]

While EVERYTHING was affected by the Wuhan Virus (aka CCP Virus) there was the side effect known as human nature to make excuses for everything and anything when it suited them. For those trigger by the calling the Wuhan Virus or CCP Virus, you can call it "The Pandemic of Excuses", which is still affecting large swaths of the population in certain parts of the world to this day.

[@martinsportfoto2423]

Covid caused some pretty massive disriuptions in supply chains, in travel, and not least - more people then ususal got ill and had to stay home for a while. The physical bridge constructions is done outdoor for sure, but there is still planning to be made, meetings to be had and for all such things covid was pretty disruptive. But more importantly and in general, a massice project like this does not happen i complete isolation to the rest of society. If society experience a disruption, so does any large project.

[@bobjonesrealtor7756]

I couldn't agree more, Sid.

[@musicmusic6788]

Beauty

[@bobjonesrealtor7756]

Thank you. :)

[@BBQDad463]

Management always forces the designers and planners to low-ball the bid, so as to ensure that they will get the contract. Then, when it becomes apparent to all that the original time and money were nowhere near sufficient, a delay and price increase will be agreed upon.

[@bobjonesrealtor7756]

Hi @BBQDad463. I imagine they cut it close to ensure the contract like you say. Can't stop now, eh?

[@karlmckinnell2635]

I’ve never heard of a contractor having to pay contractual penalties or cost overruns on any government project 😢. I’m sure some contractors do from time to time but not on the big billion dollar jobs. Happy New Year Bob and clear skies 😊.

[@bobjonesrealtor7756]

Thanks for the comment, Karl. Performance clauses are usually part of any large contracting agreement. Even house builders are on the hook if they delay closings, should they not give proper notice and remedy. That's why a good realtor is worth their commission.:) Happy New Year back to you and your loved ones. I really like clear skies. Thanks again.

[@Jack908r]

I work on these projects and I can assure you the penalties do get applied. It's a real concern for the consortiums. You don't hear about it, because the penalty applied at the end of the project is not straightforward. It's negotiated against a large number of other issues, claims, counter claims, etc. So at the end of the project, the parties negotiate the claims and penalties in an effort to stay out of court. And they eventually, arrive at an agreed to confidential amount. But they do get applied.

[@CharlesAnsman]

Pennies on the Dollar@@Jack908r

[@randomgeocacher]

Practical Engineering: Why construction projects always go over budget; is a good video if anyone wants to know the many reasons why these projects always cost more and take more time than estimated. Basically estimates always assume a low amount of real world problems, and estimates are typically not reflecting several years of inflation. Very nice shots of the bridge!

[@bobjonesrealtor7756]

It's a competitive world. I believe they cut the prices when they tender knowing there won't be enough to cover the cost to get the contract. Then deal with the issue of delays and extra costs when they have to cross that bridge. Pun intended. :)

[@randomgeocacher]

@@bobjonesrealtor7756 well, in business contract often go to the lowest bidder (within reason), so estimating high might mean your team don’t get the contract. The more pessimist / realist you are about project risks, the less chances of getting the job. So estimating low is good for everyone along the line. In construction projects, it is not like anyone is going to stop once you are 30% done anyway. I don’t work with construction (completely different area of expertise) but customers never like costly estimates, basically they usually want the world but often they scope down like crazy once it comes to price. And construction never scope down, because true project scope is not known at start of project and aborting is unacceptable. Btw in Sweden we have “Hallandsåsen”, a tunnel that took decades longer to build than expected, costed infinitely more than estimated, and poisoned/killed a whole bunch of cows. Project was basically rebooted 3-4 times each time bringing in more and more specialized tunnel builders and equipment. It went from “the railway can make this tunnel themselves” to bringing in the very best of tunnel builders. Because the government / railway estimates were complete garbage and tunnel building noobs had no chance in hell getting through that terrain. RIP all dead cows murdered by incompetent Swedish tunnel building :-)

[@bobjonesrealtor7756]

Wow. That's quite a story. I thought taking 12 years to put in 20kl of road (ECRow Parkway in Windsor) was bad. Thanks for the insightful comment.

[@galaxiedance3135]

I'm Canadian and live a couple of hours away. I couldn't care less if I never see this bridge.

[@bobjonesrealtor7756]

Hi. That's fine @galaxiedance3135. We all have different interests. Thanks for the comment.

[@toddgalagan3376]

Its status quo also in B.C. with the delay of widening the Trans Canada Highway in Langley which the competition has been pushed back at least 2 years to the summer of 2025.

[@bobjonesrealtor7756]

Hi Todd. I'm sure covid had an impact on a lot of development. Some unnecessary mandates enforced by wanna be dictators in my opinion.

[@Scorpster]

Unsub

[@paulavery366]

Good video and useful commentary! Do you know if the rust-colored supports are permanent parts of the construction under the approach roads? Thanks.

[@BasementEngineer]

The rust coloured supports under the back spans are temporary. These were needed to support these sections to minimize eccentric loading on the towers during erection. There are probably additional reasons for these supports such as heavy concentrated loading with bridge steel and concrete decking for extending the main span. The temporary supports be removed once the bridge is completed and the stay cables adjusted for the correct tension and deck curvature.

[@bobjonesrealtor7756]

That's exactly right, @BasementEngineer! Informative post. Thanks.

[@leifvejby8023]

We are at the moment building a largish bridge in Denmark too, about 4 km length and road and train, and it'll be late and over budget too - "they always are".

[@bobjonesrealtor7756]

Hello. 4 km is a long bridge. I guess we are in god company. :) Thanks for sharing.

[@thomasrobinson8336]

Bob . Over the life of this undertaking. This is chump change. A La Prochaine my friend

[@bobjonesrealtor7756]

Yeah in the grand scheme of things your right, Thomas. Ten or twenty years from now won't raise an eyebrow. The government throws around billions like there is no end to their resources and it in the end comes from our taxes. We are already taxed to death (literally) and the Liberals keep raising it. April 1st = higher carbon tax in Canada and the politicians get ten and twenty thousand raises. Enough chump change mismanaged and here comes a depression. Just saying. :)

[@dennisschoenaurer4152]

Thank goodness I can use inflation and Covid for unforeseen consequences also

[@bobjonesrealtor7756]

Yeah we all need covid relief. Government should eliminate taxed for a few years.

[@Chuck59ish]

10 months more months of back ups on the Ambassador Bridge! The owner is laughing his face off over this.

[@bobjonesrealtor7756]

Lol. Hi Chuck I'm sure your right about that. :)

[@mjones8204]

Will the hazardous loads be allowed on the new bridge or is Sarina the only crossing now?

[@bobjonesrealtor7756]

Hi Mike. Sarnia is the only crossing for hazardous materials.

[@Robinallenyukon]

I just wanna say they better not sell this one !!!

[@bobjonesrealtor7756]

Hi Robin. Lol. Right. And maybe buy the Ambassador. Great post.

[@ttnyny]

If one of the goals is to promote trade, wouldn't it make sense to build a bridge that could also accommodate a rail line?

[@justadbeer]

There already is a railway tunnel that has been in use since the early 1900's. Many people are unaware of this tunnel or that it is still used by the Canadian Pacific Railway.

[@hardyboy1959]

It seems to me that just about every major construction project always goes over budget, pandemic or not.

[@bobjonesrealtor7756]

You are right about that. The covid angle plays into the agreement they negotiated. As covid was an unexpected circumstance they avoid the penalty for missing their deadline and get another 700 million for expenses. The bridge is the best thing to happen in Essex County. I would have been surprised if there wasn't a delay. Thanks for the post!

[@johnbrossack3791]

@@bobjonesrealtor7756 Contracts that have damages clauses for failure to complete on time (usually, liquidated damages) also have 'force majeure' clauses. These clauses are in the contract to protect the contractor from events that could not reasonably be foreseen and are not under the control of the contractor, such as, pandemic, acts of government, acts of God, terrorist activity and such. In most contacts with liquidated damages, the damages are limited to a finite, agreed upon amount. I'm certain that the cost and schedule delay took all of these issues into consideration before the contract was amended.

[@davidbridgeman5828]

With a huge project like the bridge it isn't a surprise.

[@bobjonesrealtor7756]

Hi David. I agree.

[@crazyjack3357]

Are there any plans after the gorde howe Bridge is fully completed to change the I-75 and Ambassador interchange to some sort of diamond interchange or par-clo

[@bobjonesrealtor7756]

Hi. I have no idea. I don't think so, but would it make sense as they are a few kilometers apart?

[@crazyjack3357]

@bobjonesrealtor7756 well the exit and entrance from on to the other would be a kilometer at most and to have two major interchanges that close is a recipe for disaster but only time will tell how used the ambassador become and it's interchange with I-75

[@Motorhead2you]

Bob I forgot to qualify (choose your words) my main reasoning is people are fast to attack either side of politics to support their person political view , regardless of the weather, pandemic & the unforseen . any one talking on a huge job like this needs bipartison support as you well understand, . thanking you from Queenlands. Australia.

[@bobjonesrealtor7756]

Ah. Yes of course. I agree and try to stay in the center of things, but some times I'll slide a little left or right. More often to the right I admit. Appreciate your feedback, Motorhead2you.

[@_KarlS]

The family of Manuel Maroun have been stalling the Gordie Howe project since its inception (20 years), because, they own the Ambassador Bridge and make a lot of money from traffic over it. Manuel died in 2020 but he had been buying up all the land that may compete with his Ambassador Bridge crossing.

[@bobjonesrealtor7756]

Manual Moroun was an agressive business person for sure. He did what he could to keep his monolopy on the bridge tolls. Slowed down the traffic relief needed on both sides of the border. He bought a number of homes in Windsor for his twin bridge and they are rotting away. They certaiunly didn't help the situation. Thanks for the indightful comment. :)

[@bthome123]

One feature that they do not mention in this video is that when traveling to the US side a huge hockey stick swings out and slashes all vehicles.

[@bobjonesrealtor7756]

Lol. That would be a sight to see. Thanks for the smile.

[@davidmale1989]

Sorry to ask, but what is the " jump system"? Thats been removed from the Canadian side. Never mind I looked it up.

[@bobjonesrealtor7756]

Hi David. No problem. The jump system was like a box built around the tower during itès construction. It served as a platform and protection from the elements for the workers. As the tower grew the jump system would be risen to the next level for construction. It is the thing with murals on four sides on top of the tower, noe removed as the towers are complete. You will see them in my previous monthly vidsos.

[@brucebeamon5460]

Towards the end I was expecting to see BOTH bridges in these beautiful shots ! Unfortunately I didn’t 😒

[@bobjonesrealtor7756]

Hi Bruce, maybe I can make that happen soon. Thanks for the nice comment. :)

[@dennislyon5412]

Having driven around the approach sections on the Detroit side, I see so much “virtual engineering” that had to be done to create this bridge. So many pieces that are separate projects which don’t seem that they’d ultimately be connected are what is visible now/recently. It’s so big of a project, I don’t see how can you put an up front cost on this project that would be close to what will the completed project will ultimately cost - years down the road. During this project, I would think that inflation really has become a player, likely not considered when original bids were generated/submitted. Considering what we’ve been through as a society in the past 4 years, the added $700 mil seems light. I can hardly wait to see it completed!

[@bobjonesrealtor7756]

Hi Dennis. It is amazing the scope of work entailed in this project. I look forward to the day we can cross it, too. Maybe we can meet in the middle. :)

[@zachheitman6247]

Weren't most construction workers deemed 'essential employees' during Covid? I know I was as busy as ever as a structural engineer that year. The cost overruns are always going to happen because every single worker thinks the 1,000 dollars they wasted doesn't make a difference in a 5.7 billion dollar budget...but they all add up. And yes, no one knew inflation would be so bad.

[@bobjonesrealtor7756]

Great points, @zachheitman6247. The smaller bits matter when clumped together. The project isn't finished yet either. May be more surprises to come. Who knows?

[@dperreno]

There were also material shortages and other logistical challenges during the pandemic.

[@markdoldon8852]

The Covid delays werent just with the guys building the bridge but because everything in the world took longer. Longer to source supplies, longer to deliver, longer to manufacture. Even bolts and concrete were scarce and hard to get. The whole transportation and logistics system of North America and the world STOPPED

[@zachheitman6247]

@@dperreno fair point, a lot harder to find alternate material selections in a bridge

[@zachheitman6247]

@@markdoldon8852 I just know our clients didn't stop, but we were designing buildings and equipment, not 1 of 1 specialty bridges, so your point is valid. I just found the Covid line as an excuse upon first hearing it.

[@Pro1er]

Behind schedule and over budget, who would have guessed. I didn't realize the the toxic waste Canada ships to Michigan's landfills has to cross at the Blue Water Bridge.

[@bobjonesrealtor7756]

Hi @Pro1er. Up until September of 2023, oversized and hazardous materials were transported across the Detroit River on the Truck Ferry. With the advent of the Gordie Howe Bridge, which will carry these materials, the Truck Ferry could not get funding to carry ohn and closed down. The Ambassador cannot carry these kinds of loads and can only detour to the Blue Water Bridge in Sarnia/Port Hope. At least until the Gordie Howe opens. :)

[@Realroyrogers]

The crane operator sure has a long climb twice a day

[@bobjonesrealtor7756]

Lol. Lucky they have elevators. Still takes a time to travel top to bottom. Can you imagine their legs after climbing up and down that many stairs after three or four years!:)

[@muckfoot-4093]

yeah , he has to poop in a bucket .

[@markdoldon8852]

The loss of tolls is not "lost forever" whatever the lifespan of the bridge, the clock starts once it goes into service, not when a contract says it was supposed to open. So we dont lose tolls they just get pushed back.

[@bobjonesrealtor7756]

Hi Mark. I understand your reasoning on not losing tolls that are not there to start with. However if they had been on time there would have been tolls received ten months earlier, and that time and money you wil never get back.

[@bigtrucker26]

I agree that a additional crossing was absolutely necessary. However, I am sick and tired of construction on that segment of i-75 in Detroit. They had just finished a multi year freeway rebuild and within a week, before even cleaning up the construction equipment, right back into construction... it's been 10+ years of construction in that segment (I want to say closer to 20, but think it might actually be 15...). When are they going to finish the i-75 roadwork, and allow us to use the new and already deteriorating freeway? This has gone beyond reasonable into ridiculous. 😡 Get the i-75 work finished and fully opened, and I don’t really care about how much longer the rest takes...

[@bobjonesrealtor7756]

They have completed and opened the four overpass bridges in that area. I don't know an answer, other than that. Sorry. These infrastructure projects seem to take way to long. There is a lot going on and logistics must be a nighmare at times. Once done the improvements should make life easier for travellers. Thanks for the comment.

[@rael5469]

6:52 It's no WONDER it costs more to build the bridge since they have to lift every single thing onto the bridge deck with a crane. Did it ever occur to them to finish the land based section FIRST and just DRIVE the material up to the bridge?

[@bobjonesrealtor7756]

Good question. The cable stays support the bridge deck using compression between the deck girder and the tower. The cablesd pull each section, or compress the section against the previous section. They have to build from the tower out on both sided to maintain a balance.

[@edwardliszka837]

When will the two bridge decks meet and the gap close? Not total completion, just tonection.

[@bobjonesrealtor7756]

Hi Edward. This year, but no specific date so far.

[@earldavison3513]

No big deal, but January is spelled incorrectly on the opening title slide at -7:20

[@bobjonesrealtor7756]

Hi Earl. Thanks for the heads up. My mistake. Not the first, won't be the last I'm pretty sure. :)

[@bones007able]

Its not just the bridge ... it is also all the infrastructure that is required for a border crossing security, inspection bays, etc

[@bobjonesrealtor7756]

Hi @bones007able. Yes, for sure. There is a lot going on throughout the project. Thanks for the post.

[@whitecapmadness7181]

Need to stretch this project as long as possible. When it’s done, where can you go for work like this?

[@bobjonesrealtor7756]

Maybe on the mega-hospital.

[@bigjohn2810]

@@bobjonesrealtor7756

[@bobjonesrealtor7756]

Don't think so.

[@StuMarston]

00:21 It's a totally different bridge. Totally unique. It's like no other ever built. This is the finished product.

[@markdoldon8852]

How is it so unique? Looks like a fairly standard cable stayed bridge to me, but i admit i had only a passing awareness of it going ahead, so havent really looked into it.

[@bobjonesrealtor7756]

Hi Stu. It's the widest span cable stay bridge without supports in the water, and the longest in North America

[@kpdvw]

what costs more: a gynormous bridge or a under water tunnel?

[@bobjonesrealtor7756]

Hi @kpdvw, I did a quick search and looks like tunnels are more expensive but cost less to maintain.

[@buckhorncortez]

It took 4 years to complete the Mackinaw Bridge and the Gordie Howe Bridge is going to take 7 years? My, my...modern construction is so much improved...

[@bobjonesrealtor7756]

lol. The Ambassador took 2 years and completed eight or nine months early. Safety likely not a priority back then, and no unions I suspect.

[@buckhorncortez]

@@bobjonesrealtor7756 Then you need to read the history of the Mackinaw Bridge. The steelworkers were union. Five workers died during the construction of the Mackinac Bridge. One died in a diving accident; one fell in a caisson while welding; one fell a couple of feet into the water and drowned; and two fell from a temporary catwalk near the top of the north tower.

[@bobjonesrealtor7756]

I'll research the Mackinaw Bridge. Interesting points. Thanks for thee feedback @buckhorncortez. It helps a lot.

[@dknowles60]

@@bobjonesrealtor7756 wrong how young are you

[@povertyspec9651]

I live in Florida and it took 6 years to widen a two lane roadway to four near my house.

[@Scott-mx2pc]

Maybe one day the bridge at the Houston ship channel will get completed.

[@bobjonesrealtor7756]

Hi Scott. One day in 2028. They say southbound will open in 2025. It's going to be an impressive bridge. Delayed due to saftey and desine issues I read. Started in 2018, so ten years is a long time to get it done. Pretty cool bridge though. :)

[@phillip1040]

Ever wonder how "amend" on a project is always an increase in the cost and time to completion. Nice to see the reverse every once in a while.

[@bobjonesrealtor7756]

Hi Phillip. So true!

[@nooneyouknow9399]

The Ambassador replacement really should have started decades ago. Keep yer stick on the ice.

[@bobjonesrealtor7756]

You are right. Everybody gets their say before these larger projects are approved and built. This new bridge should have been done years ago for sure. Thanks for the post. If the weather stays like this, we'll have plenty of ice to play on, eh?

[@chip9177]

you would think by now that everyone would know that anytime a big project is being considered that you take the proposed cost and automatically add 50%

[@bobjonesrealtor7756]

Hi Chip. Lol. The basics.

[@seand67]

It looks JUST like the bridge in Boston

[@bobjonesrealtor7756]

Hi @sean67. Are you refering to the Bunker Hill Memorial Bridge crossing the Charles River in Boston. If so I took a quick look and it does resemble the Gordie Howe Bridge in that they are both sable stay bridges. The towers on the Gordie are 722 feet high about 500 feet higher than the Bunker Hill Bridge. It's a lot wider with ten lanes of traffic. Very cool bridge. Thanks for the post. I learn something new from the comments every day.

[@rickpaulos]

Is there a bicycle lane in the plans?

[@bobjonesrealtor7756]

Hi Rick. Yes. There will be a 12 foot wide bike and pedestrian path.

[@oinkoink870]

Should have been able to avoid most of these problems if hadn't fought against 2nd ambassador since it could have been earlier. I wasn't a big fan of Matty but sentiment was to fight to remove congestion by any other means.

[@bobjonesrealtor7756]

Hi oinkoink870. The fight slowed the progress and created continued growth to congestion. The Ambassador was unkempt to the point they considered it dangerous before they started up grading it. I'm glad they didn't twin the Ambassador. JMO. :)

[@oinkoink870]

Looks like video is saying the 2nd Ambassador bridge should I ld have been expedited.

[@bobjonesrealtor7756]

Hi. Thanks for the comment. The decision to go ahead with the Gordie Howe Bridge was delayed due to the efforts of the Moroun family fighting to keep the bridge monopoly to themselves. They had permission from Canada and the coastguard to twin the Ambassador, but let the permits run out.

[@donofon1014]

Interesting spelling of January !!😁

[@bobjonesrealtor7756]

Yeah, my mistake. I had too many r's and had to dump a few. :) Thanks for the heads up. I'll do betterr.🙄

[@robertpike3937]

my sister says they are going to have jail cells in the new buildings. Good now I'll have someplace to stay while I'm waiting to be cleared.

[@bobjonesrealtor7756]

Lol. Hi Robert. First I've heard that, but it makes sense. Hope I don't meet you there. :)

[@artysanmobile]

You make an important point. But I can’t help noticing that in many cases, ‘red tape’ gets a big share of blame for the delays in these groundbreaking projects and I’m not sure that is entirely sincere. It seems safety and environmental regulations, unforeseen technical challenges, etc, should be expected in major projects after virtually every single project encounters them?

[@bobjonesrealtor7756]

Government and red tape are very good buddies. Things change with time, and have substantially in the past few years. The pandemic disrupted the supply chain. The prime interest rate has climbed from 3.95% in 2019 to 7.2% in today's market. Hard to plan for that when we had record low rates for so many years. But you are right, all large projects suffer some setbacks. In the long run , when the bridge is open, all these issues are mute. Great post. Thanks.

[@413TomaccoRoad]

Big Dig , Big Bridge.

[@bobjonesrealtor7756]

Yup.

[@aegisofhonor]

700m is around 15% budget overrun, that's practically "margin of error" figures in today's mega projects if that ends up being the case when it finally opens when you constantly hear stories of projects running 100, 200, 300% over budget.

[@bobjonesrealtor7756]

Good point. The bridge is needed even if it does runover 100%. A contract and negotiations to get the work are tools to control runover in time and money. They had a clause for unseeable circumstances in this one. Covid was unseeable.

[@randyhorstmann8254]

Always remember, Gordy Howe bridge is owned by the Canadian government …the Ambassador Bridge is privately owned.

[@bobjonesrealtor7756]

International border crossings should be owned by the countries they connect. Just my opinion. Thanks for sharing.

[@kansascityshuffle8526]

No plan survives the enemy. Especially when that enemy has Murphy’s law backing it up.

[@bobjonesrealtor7756]

Hi @kansascityshuffel8526. I can certainly agree with you on that. :)

[@randyhorstmann8254]

Everybody knows as soon as the Gordie Howe bridge is completed the next step is to close the ambassador Bridge!!

[@bobjonesrealtor7756]

Hi Randy. The Ambassador would have come down 5 years after the twinned Abbassador was built. However the Ambassadoe is not going to be twinned so the Ambassador Bridge is gonna stay. The owners, the Moroun family , have been doing extensive repairs and updating to the bridge in recent years. It was in pretty rough shape, but it is looking better and will be around for many years to come. Thanks for the comment.

[@DanoFSmith-yc9tg]

I'd rather a project take twice as long as predicted, to allow for it to be done properly, rushing construction almost only results in disaster and failures. Plus it allows the low ranking worker to take home more pay, support the little guy, because he makes the world go round.

[@bobjonesrealtor7756]

Great p[oints. All true. Thanks.

[@quantumhelium]

You kind of sound like Jimmy Kimmel. Nice video as usual. THANKS

[@bobjonesrealtor7756]

Thanks for the nice comment. I'm not sure if that's a good thing or not, but I'll take it as a compliment. Thanks:)

[@quantumhelium]

It's a good thing, what ai am trying to say is that you are good at speaking and making a clear and entertaining message. THANKS@@bobjonesrealtor7756

[@bobjonesrealtor7756]

Thank you very much!:)

[@povertyspec9651]

$6.4 billion and it will not have a concrete median barrier on the centerline. It will just have a double yellow solid pavement markings. Look for head on crashes when the deck is slick during bad weather.

[@bobjonesrealtor7756]

Hi @povertyspec9651. That's odd. They have barriers coming from the 401 into the plaza. Maybe it's a safety or weight thing? Thanks for the information.

[@user-xe5mf3nd6o]

Who are the private parties doing the project?

[@bobjonesrealtor7756]

The Windsor-Detroit Bridge Authority (WDBA) the public partner chose Bridging North America (BNA) as the specific private-sector partner responsible for the Gordie Howe Bridge project. Bridging North America is a consortium of three companies: ACS Infrastructure Canada Inc., Fluor Canada Ltd., and Aecon. Bridging North America is tasked with designing, building, financing, operating, and maintaining the bridge and its associated elements, as well as the Michigan Interchange. I believe they have a thirty year contract.

[@user-xe5mf3nd6o]

@@bobjonesrealtor7756 thank you. Those are large contractors for sure

[@SylviusTheMad]

This is still going vastly better than the federal government's attempt to twin a pipeline.

[@bobjonesrealtor7756]

Depends on the agenda being pushed, eh? Good Post. Thanks.

[@8253gunner]

Sorry to say that you mis-spelled January on your title screen.

[@bobjonesrealtor7756]

Lol. I have the tendency to do that. Thanks for the heads up. :)

[@ajett5081]

What will the toll be?

[@bobjonesrealtor7756]

Hi. The toll at the Ambassador Bridge is currently US $7.00 or C $9.25 to cross the border. The Gordie Howe Bridge, it is expected to have a toll of $3.13 one way and $5.19 the other way. It didn't specify which way the different tolls were meant for. Hope it helps. Thanks for the question.

[@torchandhammer]

I bet the Blues Brothers could get across there.

[@bobjonesrealtor7756]

I agree. After all they are on a mission for God! :)

[@briandeschene8424]

This is caused by someone (or several someone’s) “in charge” refusing to accept fully vetted cost and schedule figures that are accurate. They proverbially browbeat those who know the truth into modifying the numbers until they are deemed acceptable to themself/themselves and those they have to negotiate with in other political/organizational camps. Once stated, the truth of those original numbers cannot be suppressed and either you spend more and take longer OR something collapses during or shortly after the project is completed. Physics and reality will not be denied.

[@bobjonesrealtor7756]

Hi Brian. The tender and costing process I suspect is subject to a lot of assumption on the future state of the economy, during the construction phase. No doubt politics and big money lobby for their interests.

[@robertpike3937]

i don't know why anyone would be surprised about slow construction and over runs. its government work

[@bobjonesrealtor7756]

Lol. Hi Robert . That's the trujth. :)

[@rael5469]

Why should there have been ANY delays due to the pandemic? I work for an airline and we never skipped a beat. Showed up for work every day. No difference.

[@bobjonesrealtor7756]

Supply chain maybe.

[@rael5469]

@@bobjonesrealtor7756 Love your video and narration sir. Great work.