The road deck of the Gordie Howe International Bridge has been completed, and the bridge crews from the U.S. and Canada celebrated the occasion today on the bridge. According to WXYZ’s Sarah Michals and Chad Britton, Gordie’s sons, Mark and Marty, were there to witness the celebration, as was grandson Dr. Murray Howe:
“They called when they first had the idea of doing this and they said ‘Would it be alright to use Gordie’s name?’ I said ‘Are you kidding me? Of course.'” Marty Howe told our team.
Murray Howe said, “Our dad would be so proud of this moment. It’s just so exciting to see.”
“It’s one thing looking at it from the road here, but when you look at it from the bridge here, it’s amazing,” Marty Howe said. “You look up and you have to keep going like that. I was almost scared I was going to pass out.”
The historic bridge will support movement of millions of people and goods for economic growth. And even more than that, it’s purposed to be a symbol of friendship between Detroit and Windsor, much like Gordie Howe himself.
When asked what he’d like drivers to feel as they cross the bridge for the first time, Murray Howe replied: “I would like to just have them feel the joy and freedom we have to cross over to these two countries and celebrate all that is the United States and all that is Canada.”
“I’ll be happy to get across and not wait so long to do it,” Marty Howe said.
May Matty Moroun be rolling over in his grave. And you can watch the video on YouTube here (no embedding allowed by WXYZ, sorry).
