The Metro: What was in the Gordie Howe International Bridge community benefits plan?
The community benefits plan for the Gordie Howe International Bridge identified several areas of community concern including environmental and economic factors. Heather Grondin from Windsor Detroit Bridge Authority joins The Metro to discuss the successes and challenges of the community benefits process.
WDBA Chief Relations Officer Heather Grondin, right, with representatives from the City of Windsor and Bridging North America at the Broadway Trail announcement on September 18, 2025.
The Gordie Howe International Bridge connecting Detroit and Windsor is nearly open, and its community benefits process is winding down.
The bridge will create a second international crossing between Detroit and Windsor-Essex and has been in the works for years. It was first proposed in the early 2000s and the Windsor Detroit Bridge Authority was created in 2012. In 2019, a Community Benefits Plan was published by the Windsor Detroit Bridge Authority.
Residents on both sides of the border, including Delray in Detroit and Sandwich in Windsor, were engaged through a number of meetings and an advisory council was assembled. The report highlights key issues raised by community members:
- Workforce development
- Landscaping and aesthetics
- Construction effects
- Community safety
- Economic development opportunities
Heather Grondin is the Chief Relations Officer for the Windsor Detroit Bridge Authority. She joined The Metro to look at what community benefits were delivered for residents of Delray on the Detroit side, and Sandwich on the Windsor side.
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