Gordie Howe Bridge (US-Canada)

[kphoger]

I keep clicking on this thread expecting to find out that the bridge got shut down already.

[vdeane]

2) I wish MDOT functionally classified their approach as "PA Freeway / Expressway" to allow for route continuity with ON-401...

3) The speed limit should be one unit exactly or split at the border like I-75, not "35mph / 60km/h" for the whole thing (better yet, maybe faster?).

I'm not sure what you mean by route continuity with ON 401, considering that ON 401 doesn't go on the bridge due to a quirk of how Ontario handles route designations at international bridges.  The dual unit speed limit signs are also standard on international bridges - and not just bridges either.

[Great Lakes Roads]

I heard that Gordie Howe's grandson was the first person to drive across the bridge.

How fitting! Gordie Howe drove on the new Gordie Howe Bridge! 

[on_wisconsin]

Crossing videos from both approach ends...

Canada:

United States:

[1995hoo]

I heard that Gordie Howe's grandson was the first person to drive across the bridge.

Others, mainly Americans, say it was the governor of Michigan. I call bullshit on that.

I wouldn't be surprised if both were true, though I also wouldn't be surprised if the governor were simply "one of the first." Consider, after all, that if you really want to be technical about it, the first person to drive across was probably a construction worker. I wouldn't be surprised if (1) the governor had driven across prior to the bridge opening to the public and (2) the Howes were the first people to drive across when the bridge actually opened. It makes me think of when the Verrazano Bridge opened in 1964. Four guys from Staten Island parked their car at the toll plaza for a week prior to the opening so that they would be the "first" to drive across, although then shortly before they were able to do so, a motorcade led by a car carrying Mayor Wagner and Cardinal Spellman drove across the bridge.

[kphoger]

This thread got a lot more relaxing lately.

[kalvado]

This thread got a lot more relaxing lately.

That's until toll sharing arrangements start getting discussed. I saw 50% to the fund controlled by US being the current one... Pissing off quite a few people.

[GaryV]

I heard that Gordie Howe's grandson was the first person to drive across the bridge.

Others, mainly Americans, say it was the governor of Michigan. I call bullshit on that.

NB vs SB?

[kphoger]

NB vs SB?

Battle of the skateboarding shoes! ^{[1 , 2]}

[kphoger]

I heard that Gordie Howe's grandson was the first person to drive across the bridge.

Others, mainly Americans, say it was the governor of Michigan. I call bullshit on that.

I wouldn't be surprised if both were true ... I wouldn't be surprised if (1) the governor had driven across prior to the bridge opening to the public and (2) the Howes were the first people to drive across when the bridge actually opened.

Looks like it's actually the other way around.  The governor's drive across ceremonially marked the official opening of the bridge.  But, a few hours earlier, members of the Howe family got to cross it before it was officially open.

[ElishaGOtis]

2) I wish MDOT functionally classified their approach as "PA Freeway / Expressway" to allow for route continuity with ON-401...

3) The speed limit should be one unit exactly or split at the border like I-75, not "35mph / 60km/h" for the whole thing (better yet, maybe faster?).

I'm not sure what you mean by route continuity with ON 401, considering that ON 401 doesn't go on the bridge due to a quirk of how Ontario handles route designations at international bridges.  The dual unit speed limit signs are also standard on international bridges - and not just bridges either.

It appears that the signs were changed again on the SB side to show 60km/h only. Maybe they're different on the NB but that's what I saw on a video just today lol 😂

[Ted$8roadFan]

I'm sure it's been discussed elsewhere, but I wonder what the effect on the Ambassador Bridge will be now that the Howe has finally opened.

[davewiecking]

I'm sure it's been discussed elsewhere, but I wonder what the effect on the Ambassador Bridge will be now that the Howe has finally opened.

All delivery trucks for hundreds of kilometers will be drawn to the new bridge like lemmings. There will be so many of them, a few will have to divert to the Ambassador. Traffic on the Ambassador will obviously increase as a result of this new bridge just down the river.

[Beltway]

I'm sure it's been discussed elsewhere, but I wonder what the effect on the Ambassador Bridge will be now that the Howe has finally opened.

Local traffic to/from Windsor may find the Ambassador Bridge more convenient.

[Max Rockatansky]

This thread got a lot more relaxing lately.

Creatively relaxing.

[on_wisconsin]

I'm sure it's been discussed elsewhere, but I wonder what the effect on the Ambassador Bridge will be now that the Howe has finally opened.

Local traffic to/from Windsor may find the Ambassador Bridge more convenient.

The tunnel may become more popular for local Metro area traffic now that a lot of through traffic will be taking the bridges...

[The Ghostbuster]

If the Gordon Howe Bridge hadn't been built, would it have been possible or likely that the Ambassador Bridge would have had to be expanded to four lanes? It likely would be more difficult to add a second Detroit-Windsor Tunnel for additional USA-Canada travel capacity.

[oscar]

If the Gordon Howe Bridge hadn't been built, would it have been possible or likely that the Ambassador Bridge would have had to be expanded to four lanes? It likely would be more difficult to add a second Detroit-Windsor Tunnel for additional USA-Canada travel capacity.

The Morouns proposed a parallel new Ambassador span, as an alternative to the Gordie Howe.

[1995hoo]

If the Gordon Howe Bridge hadn't been built, would it have been possible or likely that the Ambassador Bridge would have had to be expanded to four lanes? It likely would be more difficult to add a second Detroit-Windsor Tunnel for additional USA-Canada travel capacity.

"Possible," perhaps. If you look at a satellite view, you'll see that on the US side the approach has an area where a twin span would have connected. It's less obvious on the Canadian side than it is on the Michigan approach.

(I think you mean eight lanes? If I'm not mistaken, the current bridge has four, two in each direction.)

[ElishaGOtis]

I'm sure it's been discussed elsewhere, but I wonder what the effect on the Ambassador Bridge will be now that the Howe has finally opened.

All delivery trucks for hundreds of kilometers will be drawn to the new bridge like lemmings. There will be so many of them, a few will have to divert to the Ambassador. Traffic on the Ambassador will obviously increase as a result of this new bridge just down the river.

There is an induced demand argument that can be made here tbh...

Although, one significant benefit of the Ambassador Bridge that absolutely draws ME to it is the Duty Free fuel & truck stop. It can literally be up to $0.60-0.80 USD cheaper per gallon than elsewhere.

[vdeane]

2) I wish MDOT functionally classified their approach as "PA Freeway / Expressway" to allow for route continuity with ON-401...

3) The speed limit should be one unit exactly or split at the border like I-75, not "35mph / 60km/h" for the whole thing (better yet, maybe faster?).

I'm not sure what you mean by route continuity with ON 401, considering that ON 401 doesn't go on the bridge due to a quirk of how Ontario handles route designations at international bridges.  The dual unit speed limit signs are also standard on international bridges - and not just bridges either.

It appears that the signs were changed again on the SB side to show 60km/h only. Maybe they're different on the NB but that's what I saw on a video just today lol 😂

Looking at the videos, they sign one and then the other, rather than both on the same post as is common elsewhere.

[thenetwork]

I saw one FB video today (unfortunately lost the link) which showed the poster crossing from the I-75 south exit.

Surprised to see that the toll to Canada is paid AFTER clearing Canadian customs on the Canadian side.

Also per the video, the first 10,000 vehicles to cross received a commemorative post card noting the opening of the bridge and an image of Gordie Howe himself.

https://detroithockeynow.com/commemorative-card-of-red-wings-icon-celebrates-opening-of-gordie-howe-bridge/

[kalvado]

I saw one FB video today (unfortunately lost the link) which showed the poster crossing from the I-75 south exit.

Surprised to see that the toll to Canada is paid AFTER clearing Canadian customs on the Canadian side.

Also per the video, the first 10,000 vehicles to cross received a commemorative post card noting the opening of the bridge and an image of Gordie Howe himself.

https://detroithockeynow.com/commemorative-card-of-red-wings-icon-celebrates-opening-of-gordie-howe-bridge/

If I remember correctly, Rainbow bridge in Niagara also has toll collection after all border formalities. Probably it's easier to do it once the car is legally in Canada.

[74/171FAN]

I saw one FB video today (unfortunately lost the link) which showed the poster crossing from the I-75 south exit.

Surprised to see that the toll to Canada is paid AFTER clearing Canadian customs on the Canadian side.

Also per the video, the first 10,000 vehicles to cross received a commemorative post card noting the opening of the bridge and an image of Gordie Howe himself.

https://detroithockeynow.com/commemorative-card-of-red-wings-icon-celebrates-opening-of-gordie-howe-bridge/

If I remember correctly, Rainbow bridge in Niagara also has toll collection after all border formalities. Probably it's easier to do it once the car is legally in Canada.

Yeah I remember doing the same when crossing into Canada via the Lewiston-Queenston Bridge last week.

[JREwing78]

If the Gordon Howe Bridge hadn't been built, would it have been possible or likely that the Ambassador Bridge would have had to be expanded to four lanes? It likely would be more difficult to add a second Detroit-Windsor Tunnel for additional USA-Canada travel capacity.

That threat is what ultimately drove the Canadians to build the Gordie Howe. The absolute LAST thing they wanted was MORE truck traffic rattling down Huron Church Rd to connect to the 401. If they could get away with condemning the Ambassador and shutting it down, they absolutely would.

When the Moroun family tried to get authorization for the 2nd span, Canada would only let them build it if they immediately shut down the original span, which the Moroun's balked at. Numerous properties adjacent to the Ambassador were bought up by the Canadian Transit Company (the bridge company's Canadian arm) and left abandoned for years while they fought the City of Windsor over the 2nd span. Some (outside a historic distrct) were leveled; others are boarded up and abandoned awaiting a resolution to the legal squabbling.

The CBC and Windsor Star have a lot of free-to-read content about the fight over the Ambassador Bridge and the events that spawned the building of the Gordie Howe. It's kind of a fascinating read.