The Gordie Howe International Bridge under construction is poised to spur economic development in northwest Ohio, experts told the Oregon Economic Development Foundation on Thursday.
As the bridge construction reaches a new phase, six additional highway lanes are nearing their completion across the Detroit River into Canada.
“Why is it important to northwest Ohio?” asked Brian McMahon, the president at Danberry National.
“Because along with manufacturing we’re a very important logistics center," he said at the event held at Maumee Bay Lodge and Conference Center.
Tim Mayle, the executive director for the Center for Advanced Manufacturing and Logistics, highlighted the strength of northwest Ohio's manufacturing sector.
“So what I want to talk about is re-shoring reality,” Mr. Mayle said of adding to the business base. “Because we're gonna fill that bridge up. We don't want to just take the capacity we have now and split them between bridges. We'd like to add more business.”
The Gordie Howe International Bridge hopefully will be completed sometime in late 2024, and will be the longest cable stay bridge in North America, officials said.
“Substantial progress has been made,” toward the completion of the bridge over what will be five years of active construction next week, said Heather Grondin, the executive vice president of corporate affairs and external relations for the Windsor-Detroit Port Authority.
One third of the bridge's deck has been installed with the rest expected to be completed by summer of next year.
In addition, 58 of the 216 cables have been installed and the bridge tower on the U.S. side has reached its maximum height of 722 feet.
Three lanes in or out of Canada are considered the favorite choice for commercial use and a multiuse path promises an experience for pedestrians and cyclists to enjoy the bridge more leisurely.
Ms. Grondin outlined what she believed to be the hallmark of the new bridge, the Intelligent Transportation System.
It features multiple toll lanes, dynamic signage to respond to buildups in traffic, an extra wide lane for oversized vehicles, paved shoulders for disabled trucks, dedicated fast lanes, streamlined processing centers for buses, a separate processing center for cyclists and pedestrians, and pens for holding livestock.
“It's [the bridge is] built to accommodate ever-increasing trade and movement of people,” Marta Leardi-Anderson, executive director of The Cross-Border Institute at the University of Windsor, said at Thursday's event. “Then you will attract the interest of developers and investors.”
In conjunction with legislation such as the Inflation Reduction Act and the CHIPS Act, the United States is focusing on its supply chains in light of weaknesses displayed through the coronavirus pandemic.
Mr. Mayle pointed out that northwest Ohio is in a prime location to expand manufacturing and make things in America.
“I firmly believe re-shoring is real,” Mr. Mayle said. “And I think it's going to continue to happen with all the changes going on in the global economy.”
A prime location next to the intersection of I-75 and I-90, less congestion and lower real estate prices make northwest Ohio an attractive option for expansion of logistical and manufacturing facilities, said Jim Robey, the principal of Robey Analytics, LLC.
“The Detroit total market is about $8.38 per square foot," he said. "The rents in the Toledo market is $5.46."
“I think it really creates a lot of opportunity, as you flow down here and then with our partners in Indiana," Mr. Robey said.
According to Mr. Robey’s analysis, investment in future available industrial properties is needed, and expanded opportunity is presented through the new bridge.
In total, the bridge will cut 15-18 minutes off of each border crossing, which is an estimated 800,000 plus hours of work saved. Plus, the integration of the bridge with I-75 will bring more commerce to the Toledo area from across the nation.
Current data from Ms. Leardi-Anderson showed the Ambassador Bridge receives shipments crossing into Canada with their original starting point as far away as Laredo, Texas and Los Angeles.
“We're making various parts and pieces to vehicles that cross the bridge a number of times before we have a finished piece that gets dropped somewhere else to produce a fully made vehicle,” she said, highlighting the automotive industry.
In line with the re-shoring idea, the immediate opportunity for expanded manufacturing of electric vehicles offers potential for more sites in northwest Ohio, not just in Michigan.
“There's a tremendous amount of logistical opportunities up and down 75,” said Dennis Burnside, the executive managing director of Vestian, which provides site selection and real estate services. “In sites, buildings, and so forth, and so on.”
“I think the story to tell for our region here is that we still make stuff, we make a lot of stuff,” he said.
“The Gordie Howe Bridge is going to enhance the ability to transport goods and services, in a much more efficient way,” Mr. Burnside said.
First Published September 28, 2023, 11:35 p.m.
