The Gordie Howe Bridge may become a global cycling destination
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The Gordie Howe International Bridge under construction this winter. Photo: Courtesy of the Gordie Howe International Bridge project
Later this year, cyclists should be able to wake up in Detroit and pedal to a picturesque Canadian winery without hopping in a car.
Why it matters: Leaders expect the 1.5-mile Gordie Howe International Bridge between Michigan and Ontario that's been decades in the making to bolster trade and alleviate border congestion — but its impact on green tourism is being underestimated, per local cycling and trail advocate Todd Scott.
- The international span's walking and cycling path is expected to become a bucket-list item for cyclists across the world.
What they're saying: "More and more folks want to go someplace, experience this place and not do it from inside a vehicle," says Scott, executive director of the Detroit Greenways Coalition.
- "So I think this bridge opens things up to a much wider audience — not just Metro Detroit and Windsor, but people around the state of Michigan, Ontario and around the world," he says. "This bridge is going to be so stunning."
Catch up quick: Construction started in 2018 on the Detroit-Windsor bridge, which is scheduled to open this fall and will include a toll-free path for pedestrians and cyclists.
- Concrete barriers separate the path from traffic, with separate processing facilities at each side of the border.
- Pedestrians aren't allowed on the older Ambassador Bridge or in the tunnel.
The Detroit Greenways Coalition and Bike Windsor Essex are creating a map and guide on how to use the Gordie Howe path. They're currently taking input in an online survey.
Plus: The guide will also address tourism around the bridge, and the path will connect to trails like the Iron Belle Trail and Joe Louis Greenway. It is also the first international crossing to join the massive Trans Canada Trail.
- "The areas just outside Windsor are the closest countryside to people living in Detroit," Scott adds. "It's beautiful country, relatively flat. You can go long distances."
- Cyclists can access nearby Canadian destinations like the historic town of Amherstburg or Point Pelee National Park.
Between the lines: There are lots of questions when it comes to regulating an on-foot international crossing, Scott says.
- For example: Can you bring your dog? Can you go halfway and come back, or do you need to fully cross? What happens if you get across and can't get back due to stormy weather?
- The bridge project team consulted with the public and other crossings to come up with its terms of use, which it'll share closer to the opening, Windsor-Detroit Bridge Authority chief relations officer Heather Grondin told Axios in an email.
The latest: Workers are currently installing electrical systems for emergency call stations on the path, plus lighting and security cameras, per Grondin. They are also building the concrete barrier to separate vehicles from pedestrians and a 12-foot-high fence to prevent river access.