Beautiful.
That's how the mayor of Windsor is describing a future iconic landmark.
The Windsor-Detroit Bridge Authority announced Thursday morning that the new Gordie Howe International Crossing will be a cable-stayed bridge spanning 850 metres over the Detroit River.
Mayor Drew Dilkens says once it is built, it will be the postcard backdrop for a lot of promotional materials for the city.
"I think the cable-stayed is beautiful. I absolutely agree that this will be the postcard backdrop and you will see this vista on all of the material that will comes out from Windsor and Detroit, it is such a beautiful cable-stay bridge," says Dilkens.
Preparations are already underway on the land for the new crossing and officials say construction should begin this year.
Dilkens believes this is the start of a huge construction boom for the city and region with the addition of a new hospital and possible twin span of the Ambassador Bridge.
"I think the next ten years in terms of infrastructure and construction projects really bodes well for the next decade in Windsor-Essex and I'm really excited," says Dilkens.
The mayor also feels the city needs to leverage this new landmark. "What we need to think about is how can we develop something where people can go to a park close to this and have this as a backdrop. This is an exciting project," he says.