Representatives were part of a six-person bi-national group called the International Authority overseeing the bridge project.
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When American officials had their invitations to the Gordie Howe International Bridge’s opening ceremony rescinded last month, three Michiganders still made the cut.
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For as many as 12 years, the trio has worked closely — and under the radar — with three Canadian counterparts on what’s known as the International Authority to oversee every step of the $6.4-billion bridge project.
The bi-national group monitored the Windsor-Detroit Bridge Authority to ensure its work complied with the Canada-Michigan Crossing Agreement signed by Prime Minister Stephen Harper and Michigan Governor Rick Snyder in 2012.
Although the bridge is now open to traffic, that governance work will continue, possibly for years. And despite tension between Canada and the United States amid an ongoing trade war, the group’s members say they’ve never felt that friction from their cross-border peers.
“We’ve been working hand in glove from the very beginning and continue to do so,” Eddie Francis, former mayor of Windsor and one of the International Authority’s long-time Canadian voices, told the Star.
The group had “one priority, and one priority only: to ensure the (bridge project) was done right,” to the benefit of both Canada and the United States, Ontario and Michigan, and Windsor and Detroit communities, he said.
“Everyone celebrated when the two sides (of the bridge deck) connected. For two sides to connect, you need two sides working together.”
Michael Hayes, who previously served on Michigan’s State Transportation Commission, was appointed to the International Authority by Gov. Snyder in 2014. The 75-year-old from Midland, MI, jokingly tells his friends he can’t build a birdhouse, but still helped to make sure a multi-billion-dollar infrastructure project was completed properly.
“We had the responsibility on our shoulders of representing the citizens of your fine country and the State of Michigan,” said Hayes.
He called the Gordie Howe a “capstone” to his career in public service.
“We did a great job of keeping our eye on the ball.”
