The sprawling Gordie Howe International Bridge spanning the U.S.-Canada border between Detroit and Windsor was expected to welcome motorists this fall, but a damning new report suggests the $6.4 billion infrastructure investment is running behind schedule. Most recently, the bridge surpassed a huge milestone with the removal of the soaring tower cranes that were used to assist in the project's realization. "After five years, the massive red and blue tower cranes that could be found working on the Gordie Howe International Bridge construction have retired from the project," reads a July 30 newsletter shared by the project team. Upon completion, the Gordie Howe International Bridge will close a missing link in a busy trucking route between Michigan's I-75 and Ontario's Highway 401. In addition to its importance in international trade, the 2.5-kilometre-long bridge now holds the record for the longest cable-stayed bridge span in North America.