Zaher Yousif, P.Eng., Chief Bridge Engineer and Vice President for Engineering, Windsor Detroit Bridge Authority; Johnnathan Quijano Vargas, P. Eng., Senior Bridge Engineer, Windsor-Detroit Bridge Authority; Kyle Kopper, P.E., Chief Structure Design Engineer, Michigan DOT (former), Senior Technical Director, WSP

Video Link to "Connecting the Gordie Howe International Bridge":
https://www.yout-ube.com/watch?v=SzjpfHg5r6s

Presentation begins: 06:20
Q&A begins: 39:50

Documents:
April Presentation Gordie Howe WDBA
April News & Intro

Description:
The Windsor-Detroit gateway is the busiest commercial land crossing on the Canada-United States border.  More than 25 percent of the $1.3 trillion in overall Canada-United States trade crosses at Windsor-Detroit, with more than 7,000 trucks crossing daily.  More than a quarter of a million jobs in Michigan depend on that trade and investment, and approximately 6,000 workers cross at Windsor-Detroit every day to work on the other side of the border.  The new Gordie Howe International Bridge Project addresses key regional transportation needs that support the efficient and effective movement of people and goods through the Windsor-Detroit gateway by providing redundancy, improved border processing, and providing highway-to-highway connectivity.  The project is being delivered as a Public-Private Partnership (P3) and includes the construction of the longest cable stayed bridge in North America as well as two of the largest ports of entry on the Canada-United States border.  This presentation will provide a history of the project, discuss some of the project’s key design features, and highlight some of the key steps in the construction of the project.

Presenters:

Zaher Yousif, M.Sc., P. Eng., P.E.
Chief Bridge Engineer and Vice President for Engineering
Windsor Detroit Bridge Authority

Zaher is a Structural Engineer with 30 years of experience specializing in the field of Bridge Engineering. Zaher has worked extensively in roadway and highway bridge planning, design, P3 project management, light rail and pedestrian bridges, contract administration and rehabilitation planning. Zaher has been integral to the delivery of large and complex highway projects using the design-build and P3 model of delivery including the East Calgary ring road functional plan, Stoney Trail and Nose Hill Drive, Stoney / Macleod trail, Balzac interchanges, Northeast Stoney trail P3, Northwest Anthony Handy P3, Northeast Anthony Henday P3 and Circle Drive DB.

Johnnathan Quijano Vargas, P. Eng.
Senior Bridge Engineer
Windsor-Detroit Bridge Authority

Johnnathan is the Senior Bridge Engineer for the Windsor-Detroit Bridge Authority. Johnnathan is responsible for overseeing the development of design and providing technical support for the Gordie Howe Bridge and Michigan Interchange. Johnnathan’s 16 years experience includes the design and construction of the Herb Gray Parkway, a P3 project which connects the future Gordie Howe International Bridge on the Canadian side to Ontario’s 401 Highway.

Kyle Kopper, P.E.
Chief Structure Design Engineer
Michigan DOT (former)
Senior Technical Director
WSP

Kyle is a Senior Technical Director for Structural Engineering at WSP.  Previously, Kyle served as MDOT’s Chief Structure Design Engineer and MDOT’s lead bridge engineer on the Gordie Howe International Bridge project.  In his role as MDOT’s lead bridge engineer Kyle was responsible for coordinating MDOT’s review of design and construction submittals, engaging other subject matter experts from across MDOT, and helping to communicate MDOT’s position on questions and issues that arose on the project to the Windsor-Detroit Bridge Authority and to Bridging North America.  Prior to serving as MDOT’s lead bridge engineer Kyle also served as MDOT’s Construction Engineer for the Michigan Interchange component of the Gordie Howe International Bridge project.

Presentation Photos/Graphics: