With the $5.7-billion Gordie Howe International Bridge project rolling full steam ahead, the Windsor-Detroit Bridge Authority fielded questions from the media and the public Friday at downtown Windsor's Capital Theatre.
The majority of questions on the annual report directed at authority head Dwight Duncan, Vice President of Communications Heather Grondin and CEO Bryce Phillips .... revolved around the $20-million in community enhancements, who'll be working on the project, and land in the Delray that has yet to be acquired.
Duncan quickly put any chance 4% of outstanding acquisitions in the U.S. would cause delays to rest.
"We're very confident, both legally and from an engineering perspective, that we will have the properties on time so that this bridge will open according to the construction schedule that's been laid out already," he says. "No one is going to stop this project, no one."
Grondin says workforce participation and development and neighbourhood infrastructure development are the main focus of the community enhancements portion of the project.
"Identifying community partnerships, having enhanced aesthetics and landscaping opportunities, enhanced construction mitigation opportunities, as well as ensuring that there's the ability for local contractors to have an opportunity on the project," she says.
The line item for enhancement initiatives is missing from the report, but Grondin assured residents Bridging North America will outline those items in their budget, and the authority will continue to keep the public involved.
"We are committing to reporting to the public on a quarterly basis through a report that will be published on our website so that people are able to monitor and continue to be engaged through the delivery of community benefits," added....
An operational crossing will be delivered by 2024 and will fully complete by the end of 2025.
Grondin says the bridge authority has been gathering public input since 2015, but will hold another meeting on community enhancements at Mackenzie Hall on Dec. 4.
— with files from AM800's Rob Hindi.