| Windsor–Detroit Bridge Authority | |
| Type: | Crown corporation |
| Founded: | 2012 |
| Founders: | --> |
| Hq Location City: | Windsor, Ontario |
| Hq Location Country: | Canada |
| Areas Served: | --> |
| Owner: | Government of Canada |
The Windsor–Detroit Bridge Authority (WDBA; French: Autorité du pont Windsor-Détroit) is the Canadian federal Crown corporation responsible for administering the construction and future operation of the Gordie Howe International Bridge between Windsor, Ontario and Detroit, Michigan.
In the early 2000s, work began on a planning a new crossing of the Detroit River between Detroit and Windsor. To coordinate the bridge's construction and management, the Windsor–Detroit Bridge Authority (WDBA) was formed in 2012, beginning work in July 2014.[1] [2]
Lisa Raitt, then-Minister of Transport, appointed Michael Cautillo, Mark R. McQueen, William Graham, and Caroline Mulroney Lapham as the first board of directors of the WDBA.[3] Of the board members, Cautillo was appointed the authority's president and CEO and McQueen was appointed chairman of the board. While recognizing that the individuals first appointed to the body on July 30, 2014, all had strong financial expertise, the Windsor Star noted that none of them had local ties to the Windsor region.[4]
Tom Mulcair, New Democratic Party leader and then-Leader of the Official Opposition in the Canadian Parliament, noted that three of the first four appointees were donors to the Conservative Party of Canada.[5]
On January 1, 2016, retired Provincial Liberal Minister Dwight Duncan was appointed to be the interim chair of the Board. On December 14, 2016, he was appointed to a five-year term as the Board's permanent chair. In December 2021, Tim Murphy was appointed as the chair of the board, with Duncan leaving the post after 5 years.[6]
In July 2015, WDBA began work procuring a consortium who would design, build and finance the construction of the bridge, as well as operate and maintain it over a 30 year period.[7]
On July 5, 2018, WDBA was announced the consortium "Bridging North America" had been awarded the contract for the bridge, using a design, build, finance, operate and maintain structure.[8] The consortium consisted of AECOM for design; Dragados Canada, Fluor Corporation, and Aecon for construction; and ACS Infrastructure, Fluor, and Aecon for operations and maintenance.[9] Following construction, Bridging North America will receive monthly payments for operating and maintaining the bridge over a 30 year period.[10]
Once the bridge is complete the WDBA will manage the bridge's operation, including setting and collecting tolls.[11]