'Extraordinarily exciting': Mini Gordie Howe bridge gets new home at UWindsor's faculty of engineering

Students and faculty of the University of Windsor's Faculty of Engineering on Thursday celebrated years of partnerships with the Windsor-Detroit Bridge Authority, unveiling a detailed scale model of the Gordie Howe International Bridge that will be displayed in the engineering building. 

Bill Van Heyst, dean of the faculty of engineering, says the sculpture is more than a display, adding that it symbolizes years of effort, student engagement, and regional impact. 

"This is extraordinarily exciting for us here in engineering because it represents a culmination of a partnership with the Windsor Detroit-Bridge Authority," Van Heyst said.  

"They've hired so many of our co-op students, they've been participating in talks with our students, serving on panels, inspiring our students to think big. 

"When you look at these models, they're not small Lego models that we're talking about, this is a big project and I think it's really important for students," added Van Heyst.

The 1:750-scale model was created by the Windsor Detroit-Bridge Authority and will now serve as an educational centrepiece within the faculty of engineering.

Van Heyst said while the students did not have much interaction with building the model, they've been actively involved with the actual bridge project in their co-op placements.

Those interactions "vary from doing structural analysis on different parts. From the engineering perspective it's the transportation, the logistics of how you move things back and forth across the border, the staging areas … they did safety.

"Some of the non-engineering students would be looking at the economics, the business models, environmental assessments," Van Heyst said. 

Being a part of it, especially as a student, is just so incredible.- Mariah Saad, UWindsor student

Mariah Saad, who's currently finishing her third year of civil engineering studies, is one of the students who did her co-op placement with the bridge project. 

"Being a part of it, especially as a student, is just so incredible," she said. 

"We learn things in the classroom, and then when you actually get to see it in real life, a massive infrastructure project, it's absolutely incredible, and getting to see how different people work together, different teams all collaborate and unite together toward a common goal and accomplish amazing things, it's outstanding."

Saad, who worked with the operations team, says she looks forward to telling future generations about her input on the project.

"That's like the best feeling of it. It's like, I will be able to drive by the bridge and, in maybe 50 to 60 years, I can say I had an impact on that," she said.

The bridge authority, which manages the Gordie Howe International Bridge project for the Canadian government, has hosted more than 240 co-op students from Ontario institutions across various fields, including engineering, business, and computer science, according to UWindsor.

Construction of the $6.4-billion Gordie Howe International Bridge, which began in October 2018 after planning phases dating back to 2001, is nearing completion and is slated to be finished by September 2025. Since breaking ground, the project has employed approximately 13,550 workers.

Once completed, it is expected to enhance cross-border travel by reducing congestion, create jobs, and boost regional tourism. The 2.4-kilometre crossing will be the longest cable-stayed bridge in North America and among the 10 longest bridges on the continent.