Why Is There A Tree In the Middle of Detroit’s Gordie Howe Bridge?
We’ve all watched the progress on the Gordie Howe Bridge over the past couple of years – and now the United States and Canadian sides are connected, with the project on track to finish in September of next year. It’s been amazing to watch this happen here in the Motor City (and Canada) – but we’ve got a question:
But what’s up with the tree on the Gordie Howe Bridge?
We were checking the amazing photos from June 15th and noticed a tree in the middle of the bridge. Why? It’s a very cool tradition between Ironworkers.
It’s called “Topping Out,” dating back over 1,000 years. Topping out symbolizes a connection, and the evergreen tree indicates that a job has been done well. It’s a cherished custom that Ironworkers say brings “good luck”. More than 200 ironworkers and operating engineers from Canada and the US were on the deck for the ceremony, where an evergreen tree was placed on a redundancy girder alongside flags representing Ironworkers 700 and Ironworkers Local 25 unions.
The six-lane structure across our beloved Detroit River (which will have paths for cyclists and pedestrians, by the way) will be the longest cable-stayed bridge in North America at almost 2,800 feet (technically, it’s 2,798 feet). If you include the ports of entry and approach structures, we’re talking a mile and a half total.
Great idea for the Gordie Howe Bridge
The recent Detroit News article referred to a question about the international border being referred to as the “blue line” in honor of Gordie and the Red Wings (hockey reference if you don’t know). This is a GREAT idea and ties into the celebration of Mr. Hockey’s 25 seasons with the Detroit Red Wings. Maybe if you get pulled over at the border, they put you in a “penalty box”? Can commercial vehicles use the “Production Line” to cross over?
The bottom line is that the Gordie Howe Bridge is beautiful, and we can’t wait to see it completed next September. Maybe they should leave a couple of branches from the tree for luck.
Favorite Michigan Sports Illustrated Covers
Bill Laimbeer - Pistons Bad Boy (Nov. 5th 1990)
If you were in Detroit you loved him. Outside of Michigan, he was probably the most hated player in the NBA…and we didn’t give a sh*t. The Bad Boys were exactly that – they’d knock you on your ass and complain to refs if a foul was called. Bill Laimbeer was our pain the butt, and we love him.
UNITED STATES – OCTOBER 25: November 5, 1990 Sports Illustrated via Getty Images Cover, Basketball: Closeup portrait of Detroit Pistons Bill Laimbeer (40), Detroit, MI 10/25/1990 (Photo by Theo Westenberger/Sports Illustrated via Getty Images/Getty Images)
Magic Johnson vs Bird - April 2nd, 1979
Where were you when these two giants squared off in 1979? Magic and Bird changed the way we watched basketball..the entire country wanted to see who’d win the game (and the game within the game between these two).
UNITED STATES – MARCH 26: April 2, 1979 Sports Illustrated via Getty Images Cover, College Basketball: NCAA Final Four, Michigan State Magic Johnson (33) in action, making dunk vs Indiana State Bob Heaton (30), Salt Lake City, UT 3/26/1979 (Photo by Rich Clarkson/Sports Illustrated via Getty Images/Getty Images)
Megatron - Oct. 10th, 2011
Calvin Johnson was a man playing among boys. I still laugh at some of the catches he made in the NFL (even when defenses tried everything to stop him). This catch against Dallas just a reminder of how amazing Megatron was…and what a blessing to have him in Detroit.
October 10, 2011 Sports Illustrated via Getty Images Cover:
Football: Detroit Lions Calvin Johnson (81) in action, making catch and scoring game winning touchdown vs Dallas Cowboys Terence Newman (41) at Cowboys Stadium.
Arlington, TX 10/2/2011
CREDIT: David E. Klutho (Photo by David E. Klutho /Sports Illustrated via Getty Images/Getty Images)Gordie Howe and Ted Lindsay - Jan 17th 1957
This was a tough one. So many great Red Wings covers – but something about these two on the cover of Sports Illustrated back in the early days makes me smile. How many hockey players saw that picture and said “I want to be in the NHL”…or said “there’s no way in hell I’m messing with them”
UNITED STATES – JANUARY 17: March 18, 1957 Sports Illustrated via Getty Images Cover, Hockey: Closeup portrait of Detroit Red Wings Ted Lindsay (15) and Gordie Howe (9) in locker room, Detroit, MI 1/17/1957 (Photo by Richard Meek/Sports Illustrated via Getty Images/Getty Images)
Desmond Howard - Sept. 14th 1991
When it comes to Michigan football it’s all about the swagger. And NO ONE backed it quite like Desmond Howard – scoring the game winner against Notre Dame back in 1991. Wolverine legend.
September 23, 1991 Sports Illustrated via Getty Images Cover: College Football: Michigan Desmond Howard (21) in action and victorious, scoring touchdown vs Notre Dame Greg Davis (26) during 4th down. Ann Arbor, MI 9/14/1991 CREDIT: Duane Burleson/AP (Photo by SI Cover /Sports Illustrated via Getty Images/Getty Images)
Alan Trammell - Oct. 13th 1984
The 1984 Tigers (love this pic of Trammell going yard against the Padres in the World Series). I hope everyone in Detroit understands how amazing this team was, and how Sports Illustrated captured so many pics of Trammell and the gang during that season. One of the greatest teams in MLB history.
October 22, 1984 Sports Illustrated via Getty Images Cover: Baseball: World Series: Detroit Tigers Alan Trammell (3) in action, hitting home run vs San Diego Padres. Game 4. Detroit, MI 10/13/1984 CREDIT: John Iacono (Photo by John Iacono /Sports Illustrated via Getty Images/Getty Images)
