New bridge to Canada will be named for Gordie Howe

The new Detroit-Windsor bridge will be named the Gordie Howe International Bridge, after the Detroit Red Wings great. Read the updated story here.

This is a developing story...

Earlier:

LANSING – Nothing unites Detroit and Canada more than the game of hockey.

Well, maybe beer and Tim Hortons.

But, as residents on both sides of the Detroit River await today's expected announcement at 12:15 p.m. of a name for a new span over the Detroit River, there's speculation that a certain Canadian-born player who led the Detroit Red Wings to four Stanley Cups could be seen as the perfect choice to lend his famous name to the bridge.

The Gordie Howe International Bridge, anyone?

Officials were tight-lipped Wednesday about today's announcement in Windsor where Gov. Rick Snyder will join Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper for the formal unveiling of the moniker for the $2-billion, currently referenced New International Trade Crossing.

But the idea has been passed around for close to five years. Known as Mr. Hockey, Howe, now 87, is immensely popular in both Detroit and Windsor. An official with the Ontario Trucking Association is credited with first suggesting the idea at a hearing in Lansing in the summer of 2010, and Howe's son Marty told the Toronto Star it would be "a nice honor" for his dad, who loved the people of Detroit — who still revere his legendary number 9.

Snyder has pushed hard for the bridge, striking a deal with Canada to have it built after the Michigan Legislature would not approve a package of bills to provide for its construction.

Canada is fronting Michigan's share of the cost of the bridge construction. The agreement provides for the Canadians to recoup the money from bridge tolls.

In February, U.S. and Canadian officials announced a long-awaited deal to build a new customs plaza in Detroit, marking one of the last hurdles to be crossed before construction of a new international span can get under way.

Land acquisition on the U.S. side is still pending.

Contact Paul Egan: 517-372-8660 or pegan@freepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @paulegan4.