The first hard numbers have come out on the cost to build the Gordie Howe International Bridge.
In order to get financing in place, Bridging North America had to file detailed documents to Standard and Poors, the bond rating agency.
Those numbers have been published and Crains Detroit has sifted through what they indicate.
Reporter Chad Livengood says the total cost of the design and construction is just under $3.5-billion.
He says the documents indicate the span is to be completed in the fall of 2024.
"They concluded that this pricetag, the fixed cost will be about $3.46-billion Canadian to construct the bridge over a period of 74 months starting this fall"
Livengood says that cost covers more than just the cable-stayed bridge construction.
"That does include both the plazas plus the interchange that's going to be built to connect the US Port of Entry to I-75 in Detroit. That's a cost that's being borne out of the project as the State of Michigan is not putting up a dollar on this project"
He says the Canadian federal government will pay Bridging North America over $37-million a month during the construction.
Livengood says the cost does not include the land assembly, which is estimated at $350-million in the Delray neighborhood.
He says when you add that, the work already done on the Canadian plaza and the financing costs you get to about the $4.5-billion cost that's been commonly used for the project.
Bridging North America will finance about $1-billion of the cost through bonds and loans. and received a credit rating of A-minus.