WINDSOR, ONTARIO - The 1.5-mile-long Gordie Howe International Bridge remains on schedule to begin construction by summer 2018, but the completion date is unknown.
Representatives from the Windsor Detroit Bridge Authority and Gov. Rick Snyder's office provided an update of the approximate $2.1 billion project during a Wednesday, Nov. 29, media tour of the Windsor and Detroit construction sites, noting they plan to come to a "financial close" with contractors by September 2018.
Contractors proposals will include how they intend to build the project, community benefits requirements, how the project will be financed and the cost, and the construction schedule, said Heather Grondin, vice president of communications for WDBA.
"Once we hit financial close, that's when we'll be able to communicate project value as well as the construction timeline, what that construction is going to look like and when opening date will be," Grondin added.
Officials noted $350 million of preparatory activity is underway. Site remediation, drainage, road construction, utility and transmission-line relocation are part of the preparatory activities. About $200 million was spent on the Windsor side and $150 million went toward the Detroit side, not including costs to acquire properties or remaining properties needed.
About 93 percent of the land needed was acquired but developers still need to acquire properties through a court battle in Detroit's Delray neighborhood that Ambassador Bridge owner Manuel "Matty" Moroun possesses.
"We're confident we will have the properties acquired when they're needed for the project," said Andy Doctoroff, special projects adviser in the Michigan governor's office.
"We have success in lawsuits...getting the property we need. We have great relationships with the community and we're making sure its interests are being well protected."
The Canadian Port of Entry will occupy 130 acres while the U.S. side will occupy 148 acres, being one of the largest ports along the U.S.-Canada border.
The bridge will be among on the the "top five longest bridges in America," Grondin said, and it will feature six lanes, including a bicycle and pedestrian lane.
Several residents in the Delray neighborhood are being relocated for the bridge construction and long-time resident Steve Toth said he is not being treated fairly.
Toth, who has been living at 645 S. Crawford St., claimed he was being lied to and that he would receive $53,000 to relocate. On Wednesday, Toth, who has lived in his home for 61 years, received an eviction notice, he said.
"We were promised a fair price for our house. We were promised we would be given time to leave. Well, you can't leave if you have no money...I want to be treated fairly," Toth said, adding he did not receive any money.
Project officials are "very familiar" with Toth, Doctoroff said.
"I can't tell you how many services have been offered to Mr. Toth to make sure he is treated well," Doctoroff said. "He's a single example of a homeowner who is not willing to cooperate with us. He's been offered a sizable amount of money as a tenant to relocate," adding community activists are attempting to find him a decent and sanitary place to relocate.
"Mr, Toth is an anomaly for this project. I know of no one else at all who is in any situation that reports to be comparable to (him)," Doctoroff said.