Section of roadway collapses near Gordie Howe Bridge project work in Detroit

A 30-metre section of a Detroit roadway where workinvolving theGordie Howe International Bridge project was taking place has collapsed.

The investigation is ongoing and the cause is not yet known.

"The road failure caused the compromised concrete to collapse inward," saidHeather Grondin, vice-president ofcorporate affairs and external relationsfor the Windsor-Detroit Bridge Authority.

The section is located on West Fort Street at Cavalry Street,not directly on the site wherethe bridge is being constructed butcloser to the work being done on theMichigan Interchange.

A photo published by the Detroit Free Press shows a section of roadway where theasphalt has crumbled into the ground.

Grondinconfirmed that Bridging North America (BNA), the construction consortium building the bridge, had been conducting sheet piling in the area nearby.

No workers were on site when it happened, and no one was hurt.

A road closure is in place between Livernois and Campbell Street. Grondin said they anticipate one lane will be open in each direction by tomorrow.

Bridge officialswere made aware of the incident on Sunday and it happened the night prior.

The $5.7-billion Gordie Howe Bridge, which connects Windsor and Detroit,is expected to be complete by the end of2024.

If the collapse is found to be related to the bridge project, Grondin said any costswould be paid for by BNA.