Parsons selected as Owner’s Engineer for Gordie Howe Bridge project

Windsor-Detroit Bridge Authority (WDBA) has selected Parsons for the role of Owner’s Engineer for the Gordie Howe International Bridge project.

Back in January 2015, Parsons was awarded a contract as WDBA’s General Engineering Consultant to provide a range of professional engineering services during the preparatory activities and procurement stages of the project. This new $61 million contract—the first contract WDBA has awarded for services related to the design-build phase of the project—is the result of WDBA exercising its option for the original contract to be amended to select Parsons as Owner’s Engineer.

In its new role, which will begin in April, Parsons will support WDBA (the owner) through design review, providing technical advice and monitoring and overseeing the construction activities of the private-sector partner through inspections, compliance reviews and audits. This does not involve the actual design of the bridge, that service will be performed by private sector team awarded the design, build, finance, operate and maintain contract.

“As we finalize our procurement process to select a private-sector partner to deliver the Gordie Howe International Bridge project it is important that we take steps now to prepare for the start of significant construction,” said André Juneau, interim CEO, WDBA, in a media release. “In addition to getting the sites ready through preparatory activities, we are getting our organization ready to manage the project with appointing Parsons as our Owner’s Engineer being our first critical step.”

WDBA is currently concluding its public-private partnership (P3) procurement process to choose a private-sector partner to design, build, finance, operate and maintain the Gordie Howe International Bridge project.

Construction on the new bridge between Windsor, Ontario and Detroit, Michigan will begin this year.