ACS Infrastructure and FlatironDragados Connect Two Nations with the Opening of the Gordie Howe International Bridge
The ACS Group companies ACS Infrastructure (IRIDIUM) and FlatironDragados, celebrated the official opening of the Gordie Howe International Bridge, the longest cable-stayed bridge in North America. Spanning the Detroit River between Detroit, Michigan, and Windsor, Ontario.
The project was delivered by the Bridging North America (BNA) consortium — comprised of ACS Infrastructure, Fluor, and Aecon — under a $6.4 billion design-build-finance-operate-maintain (DBFOM) agreement with Windsor-Detroit Bridge Authority (WDBA). FlatironDragados served as lead contractor, working alongside consortium partners to execute physical delivery. After eight years of construction, the crossing opened on Monday, July 27, as a permanent new gateway between two nations.
Designed to provide modern capacity and long-overdue redundancy along one of North America's most critical trade corridors, the bridge strengthens the movement of people and goods that keep the Canadian and U.S. economies connected.
As equity members of the BNA consortium, ACS Infrastructure, Fluor, and Aecon collectively led project development and financing and continue to play a key role in the long-term operation and management of the asset through the concession term. WDBA, a Canadian Crown corporation, serves as contracting authority.
"The Gordie Howe International Bridge demonstrates what can be achieved when scale, capability and long-term investment come together with clear purpose," said Juan Santamaría, CEO, ACS Group.
"This is infrastructure that strengthens trade, improves resilience and delivers lasting value for two nations. At ACS Group, we focus on building assets that strengthen economies and stand the test of time. This project reflects that commitment."
The Project: Eight Years, Two Nations, One Corridor
The Gordie Howe International Bridge is a 2.5-kilometre (1.5-mile), six-lane cable-stayed crossing spanning the Detroit River, with a clear main span of 0.75 kilometres (0.5 miles) — an engineering achievement unmatched anywhere on the continent.
The scope delivered by BNA includes the bridge, the Canadian and U.S. Ports of Entry, and the Michigan Interchange, including the I-75 connection, two road bridges, five pedestrian bridges, and associated roadway improvements. On the Canadian side, the port of entry ties directly into the Rt. Hon. Herb Gray Parkway — another ACS-developed and operated project — creating a seamless transportation corridor across the international boundary.
Under the DBFOM agreement, BNA will operate and maintain the bridge and Ports of Entry for 30 years, ensuring long-term accountability and performance. The Gordie Howe International Bridge provides critical new capacity and redundancy, strengthening the resilience of cross-border supply chains and regional economic connectivity.
The project's impact extends well beyond the crossing itself. Construction supported thousands of jobs across Michigan and Ontario, drawing on local workforce talent, suppliers, and resources from each country as the two sides advanced simultaneously toward the center span.
The project has received multiple industry recognitions for innovation, project finance, and sustainability, including IJGlobal's North America Roads Deal of the Year and the Envision Platinum Award for sustainable infrastructure.
About ACS Group
The ACS Group is a global infrastructure and project-development leader with integrated capabilities across investment, design, engineering, construction, and operations. Its work spans next-generation mobility, advanced technology, energy transition, critical minerals, natural resources, social infrastructure, and large-scale civil engineering.
With more than 150,000 employees worldwide and 2025 revenue of €49.9 billion, the ACS Group combines global scale with integrated project capabilities. Its worldwide network enables the Group to mobilize resources quickly and efficiently for clients, provide meaningful career opportunities for its people, and invest in innovation and research for the long term.
ACS brings deep market insight, trusted community relationships, and world-class technical expertise to deliver complex solutions across sectors and geographies. In 2025, ACS Group was ranked No. 1 on ENR's Top 250 International Contractors list.
