b'FEATUREBy the numbers, the total project value is $6.4 billion, the operational period is 30 years and the number of construction workers is approximately 2,500. An interesting fact from WDBA The bridge towers shape will reflect the curvature of a hockey stick in a slap shot.The Bridge Steel The cable-stayed design of the new bridge features steelasavitalcomponentoftheconstruction project.AdvantageSteelspokewiththethree involvedsteelcompaniesfortheirthoughtson supplying steel to this historic project.Burnco Manufacturing Inc.Burnco has been in business for more than 30 years and specializes in steel fabrication at their 180,000-sq.-ft. factory in Vaughan, Ont. We have been supplying the bridge building sector for more than 15 years, says John Boote, general manager atBurnco.Ourworkforthebridgesectoris becoming more complex as our experience with supplying bridge steel increases.Burncowonthebidtosupplysteelforthe Canadian approaches to the bridge. The steel was neededtocreateasuperelevatedconnection between ground level and the main span of the bridge.Thecompanysuppliedgirdersforthe approach that were up to 37 metres in length. One challenge was that each of the girders had to be made with a horizontal curve or sweep of 61 -92 centimetres, says Boote. The sweep required specialjigstocreate.Weessentiallyworked through a 3D fabrication process versus the normal 2D approach. The girders were non-weathering, whichwasconsistentwithmostofthesteel supplied for the bridge because of a three-coat paint applied after installation.Beingapartofthisprojectisaonce-in-a-lifetime experience, states Boote. All the steel we supplied was from Canadian producers which is a good news story for our country.Photo credit: Windsor-Detroit Bridge Authority.Being a part of this project is a once-in-a-lifetime experience. All the steel we supplied was from Canadian producers which is a good news story for our country.JOHN BOOTE28|WINTER 2023/2024 ADVANTAGE STEEL'