Detroit Regional Partnership<\/a>, Alan Weber sees the new Gordie Howe bridge as a critical addition to Detroit\u2019s infrastructure network, helping the region to modernize and maintain its strong trade relationship with Canada while providing economic opportunity for Detroiters.<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/canada\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/alan-weber_drp.jpg\")
Alan Weber, Managing Vice President, Business Development
Detroit Regional Partnership<\/p>\n
Business Facilities spoke with Weber about the project and its impact. Detroit Regional Partnership, a public-private, 501(c)(3) not-for-profit economic development partnership focused on marketing and business attraction for the 11-county Detroit Region.<\/p>\n
Business Facilities: The Gordie Howe International Bridge opens on July 27, 2026. What has the Detroit-Windsor border looked like from a trade perspective, and how will the new bridge change that picture?
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Weber: The Ambassador Bridge connecting Detroit and Windsor is already North America\u2019s busiest international border crossing by trade volume, with tens of thousands of trucks crossing it every day. The Gordie Howe bridge, located about two miles south of the Ambassador Bridge, will strengthen our trade capacity with Canada while further bolstering the Detroit region\u2019s appeal as a hub for economic activity.
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The Gordie Howe International Bridge has been in the making for more than a decade, and we\u2019re anticipating a lasting impact on Detroit\u2019s trade network. Comparable metropolitan areas along the U.S.-Canadian border often feature multiple over-water crossings, so this project will modernize the region\u2019s border infrastructure while adding the necessary redundancy to keep commerce moving.
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Business Facilities: What does this mean for the businesses and residents of the Detroit region?
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Weber: Infrastructure investments of this scale are a significant catalyst for job creation, whether that means immediate construction jobs, demand for logistics and transportation services or future opportunities generated by foreign or domestic investment. Beyond direct employment, economic activity generated by this kind of investment increases the local tax base and creates downstream demand for retail, services, and housing, all of which benefit communities, residents and businesses in the region.<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/canada\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/us-port-of-entry_gordie-howe-bridge.jpg\")
U.S. Port of Entry for Gordie Howe International Bridge in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo: Windsor-Detroit Bridge Authority)<\/p>\n
Business Facilities: What role does that international trade network play in attracting investment?
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Weber: Robust and modernized border crossing infrastructure is a real differentiator for companies evaluating where to locate or expand operations. Detroit\u2019s centralized location provides access to half of the combined population of the U.S. and Canada within a 10-hour or one-day drive. That, combined with our international bridges, the Port of Monroe and the underground tunnel to Windsor, uniquely positions the region to support companies seeking to tap into this critical supply chain.
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Over the last five years, foreign direct investment in the Detroit region has generated $35.7 million per project and $1.9 billion in total investment. This is a testament to the existing infrastructure network at the border as well as a signal for strong global business interest and confidence in the regional Detroit economy.
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Business Facilities: What is the Detroit Regional Partnership\u2019s role in securing international investment?
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Weber: Attracting international investment is one of the DRP\u2019s core functions. We serve as a single point of contact for companies exploring a move to or expansion in the Detroit region, showcasing what Southeast Michigan has to offer. International companies often have limited visibility into the Detroit region, so we help familiarize them by demystifying the regulatory environment, fostering connections with Detroit\u2019s business community and supporting the site selection process. Our international trade missions also play a key role in winning international investment by strengthening relationships with key job creators abroad and keeping Detroit on their short list.<\/p>\n
Click here to read other recent Infrastructure & Incentives Updates from\u00a0Business Facilities.<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"An established highly interconnected trade network between Michigan and Canada depends on infrastructure like the Ambassador Bridge and…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":145457,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[17,47457,7908,31974,47456,23725,47458,32756],"class_list":["post-145456","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-canada","tag-canada","tag-detroit-regional-partnership","tag-economic-development","tag-gordie-howe-bridge","tag-gordie-howe-bridge-detroit","tag-gordie-howe-international-bridge","tag-michigan-department-of-transportation","tag-windsor-detroit-bridge-authority"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/canada\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/145456","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/canada\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/canada\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/canada\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/canada\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=145456"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/canada\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/145456\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/canada\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/145457"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/canada\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=145456"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/canada\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=145456"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/canada\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=145456"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/canada\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/gordie-howe-bridge_drp-stills.png\")
Gordie Howe International Bridge (Photo: Detroit Regional Partnership)The Windsor-Detroit Bridge Authority (WDBA) is a Canadian Crown corporation established by the Government of Canada to oversee the project. It serves as the project owner, manages the P3 contract, oversees construction, and will operate the bridge after it opens.Bridging North America is the private-sector consortium selected to deliver the project under the P3 agreement. The consortium is responsible for designing, building, financing, operating, and maintaining the bridge and both the Canadian and U.S. ports of entry, as well as designing and constructing the Michigan Interchange. BNA is led by ACS Infrastructure, Fluor, and Aecon, with FlatironDragados serving as the lead construction contractor and AECOM leading the design team.The Michigan Department of Transportation partnered with Canada during project planning and is responsible for the long-term operation and maintenance of the Michigan Interchange that connects the bridge to Interstate 75. The agency also coordinates with U.S. border and transportation authorities on the American side of the crossing.There is also The International Authority, a six-member, binational oversight body includes equal representation from Canada and Michigan. It provides governance over key aspects of the project, monitors compliance with the Canada\u2013Michigan Crossing Agreement, and ensures the bridge is developed and operated in accordance with the international agreements governing the crossing.<\/p>\n