Harper announces new Windsor-Detroit bridge to be named after Gordie Howe

CP24 ^ | May 13, 2014

[Squawk 8888]

WINDSOR, Ont. - A new bridge between Windsor, Ont., and Detroit will be named after hockey legend Gordie Howe.

Howe, who is now 87, was born in Floral, Sask., and came to be known as "Mr. Hockey."

The still-to-be built Gordie Howe International Bridge is expected to be operational in 2020.

The Windsor-Detroit corridor is the busiest commercial land crossing between the two countries and the border has long been a bottleneck.

Prime Minister Stephen Harper made the announcement today along with Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder at the river separating Canada and the U.S.

Harper praised Howe as a proud Canadian who led the Detroit Red Wings to four Stanley Cup wins and built goodwill between the two countries.

[Squawk 8888]

Canada Ping!

[OttawaFreeper]

Well, we already have the AutoRoute Maurice Richard from Gatineau to Montreal (Quebec AutoRoute #50).

[MeshugeMikey]

I havent researched this possibility but I truly hope that the bridge wasnt built by the same people who botched the san francisco bay bridge.

[glorgau]

That’s racist. Hockey is a white man’s sport. /s

[Hot Tabasco]

That’s a nice touch and very fitting.........

[Clay Moore]

It sure was great watching Gordy and his sons when they were playing for Houston.

[dfwgator]

Good call.

[Bulwyf]

Oh well.

My buddy Cal Swenson after being hit by Howe in the first period for no reason, bided his time til the third period then did a clean hit.

Howe complained to the ref that Cal didn’t know who he was and who does he think he is etc.

Perhaps he’s changed some.

Cal died new year’s day 2014. He was a good guy.

[Resolute Conservative]

Will it have an exit ramp to Cheetah’s?

[lee martell]

I hope not. My hometown of Detroit is looking forward to the new Gordie Howe Bridge. I recall the Red Wings playing at The Olympia and Cobo Hall downtown. They don’t need the drama of flimsy craftsmanship or inferior parts. There was a big blow up last year in the Bay Area, when the brand new bridge developed several areas of early corrosion. Turns out most the parts were from China. I heard most of the workers on the bridge were Chinese, not Americans. Govt. Brown was ‘deaf’ to any complaints of farming out american jobs.

[MeshugeMikey]

The Chinese gifted us with their usual high quality exports..

Drywall Pet Food. Baby Formula....Bridge Parts....MMM MMM GOOD!

I grew up in Flint Michigan so Im familiar with the territory.

I was fan of the WIndsor tunnel back in those days, and I am old enough to remember Gordie Howe!

[rlmorel]

Hahahahaha...is a truck going to smash you into a guardrail as you cross????

It is all good...Gordie Howe was GREAT!

[rlmorel]

Boston fan here...:)

[cripplecreek]

I was pulling for ya Gordie and I'm not even a Hockey fan. It just sounded a whole lot better than the International Trade Crossing Bridge.



Michigan legislative action thread

[Ouderkirk]

Not being familiar with the area, I assume Cheetah’s is an “adult entertainment” venue.

[Toespi]

I think it should be named the USA/Canadian Terrorist Entry Bridge.

[Resolute Conservative]

You are correct.

[cripplecreek]

It took a long time coming and Snyder despite everything else, was a tough negotiator. The agreement wasn't signed till there was a stipulation that it would be built and staffed using half American labor.

Obama and the democrats flap their gums about infrastructure funding but his offer to fund the American infrastructure came with strings attached. He offered $250 million for the customs plaza with the stipulation that Snyder give $100 million to Detroit pension funds that have nothing to do with anything. Snyder turned it down.

[cripplecreek]

Call it whatever you want, Detroit is still the second busiest freight crossing on the continent after Laredo. Eliminating the bottleneck will very likely cause the amount of freight to increase and surpass Laredo.