Two sides of Gordie Howe International Bridge about 200 feet away from being connected; Expected to happen in July

DETROIT (WWJ) — We’re approaching another major milestone as construction on the Gordie Howe International Bridge continues.

The roughly half-mile span connecting Detroit and Windsor across the Detroit River is only about 200 feet away from connecting in the middle. With only a few segments left to be placed, officials expect the bridge deck to be joined at some point in July.

The two sides of the bridge are close enough that “you could throw a Nerf football” across the gap, according to Windsor-Detroit Bridge Authority Chief Capital Officer Grant Hilbers. But not close enough to jump across.

“Two hundred feet looks pretty small from the ground. I think you can view the bridge from many angles in both Detroit and Windsor, but once you get up there, it still looks like a pretty good distance,” Hilbers told WWJ’s Ryan Wrecker.

While Hilbers says plans for a celebration are in the works for when the two sides of the bridge are joined, there’s still lots of work to be done before travelers can make their way across.

“Just note once the bridge is joined, there’s still significant work that has to take place on both the bridge and the ports of entry before traffic will flow, which we expect in the fall of 2025, but we’re certainly excited to celebrate the milestone of the connection.”

There’s no official word on what the celebration will look like or when it will be held.

Last August the towers on either side of the river reached their final height .

Running one-and-a-half miles in length and spanning six-lanes, the project will be the longest cable-stayed bridge in North America, according to officials.

When it’s complete, it will be a third option for travel between Detroit and Windsor, along with the privately-owned Ambassador Bridge, and the Detroit-Windsor Tunnel.