The Gordie Howe International Bridge is a massive, $6.4 billion project connecting Canada and the United States to drive commerce, trade, and recreational travel.
And while the project's scope is big in nature, the Gordie Howe International Bridge project team isn't missing any details, also focusing on the "little things" that manifest community benefits for the hosting City of Windsor.
Jimmy Mugenyi, a Mechanical Engineering Technology student at St. Clair College, poses with bike racks he designed for the Malden Park Trailhead on Sept. 19, 2025. (Rich Garton/St. Clair College)
On Sept. 19, the Gordie Howe International Bridge project team and the City of Windsor announced the opening of the Broadway Street multi-use path and Malden Park Trailhead, connecting Malden Park to the Gordie Howe International Bridge, where people can use the bridge's multi-use path to walk or cycle to the United States.
In addition to the path, the new trailhead at Malden Park will provide path users with a safe place near the Bridge to meet and park.
And that's where you'll find Jimmy Mugenyi's bike racks.
"I feel very proud to participate in this. And to have won, that's a great honour," Mugenyi said, while standing next to the newly erected bike racks at Malden Park.
Mugenyi is a student in Mechanical Engineering Technology - Automotive Product Design in the School of Engineering Technologies at St. Clair College.
Thanks to a relationship forged by Sonja Popovski of St. Clair's Research and Innovation department, the bridge project team created a design competition, open to all students at St. Clair to design bike racks leading to the bridge.
Design requirements included a durable, easily maintainable stand-alone bike rack concept that is functional and sculptural in nature. Students submitted designs for consideration during the fall 2024 semester.
Mugenyi's design was chosen for its fabrication simplicity, functionality and abstract representation of the actual bridge structure.
"I'm very thankful for the coordinators at St. Clair, John Byng and Sonja Popovski, and I also thank my teacher, Dominic Rossi. He helped me modify my design," said Mugenyi. "It's a good feeling to see these, and my family is happy for me. This is going to be a good promotion for my career in Mechanical Engineering Technology."
Heather Grondin, the Chief Relations officer with the Windsor-Detroit Bridge Authority, said Jimmy's design is a conceptual representation of the bridge towers themselves, and a great addition to the new trailhead leading to the bridge, which will feature bike lanes to allow cyclists and pedestrians to cross between Windsor and Detroit.
"This collaboration with St. Clair College is just one of many community benefits partnerships that exist between the project team and the nearly 100 community organizations in Windsor and Detroit that we have worked closely with to make a difference for residents, visitors and businesses in Windsor-Essex and the greater Detroit area," Grondin said.
The bike racks can be found in two locations - one at Malden Park and another at the pedestrian processing building at the Canadian port of entry.
"I'd like to give a special shout out to the students from St. Clair College's School of Engineering Technologies for the design of these amazing bike racks," said Renaldo Agostino, the City Councillor for Ward 3 in Windsor. "They are special, and they add another creative and unique local touch to this awesome resource we are celebrating today. We're proud to showcase student talent and celebrate the role of education in shaping our public spaces."
John Byng, Chair of the School of Engineering Technologies, applauded the partners for working together to create legacy projects to engage the community.
"This bike rack competition is another great example of providing real world experiences for students and helping them turn their ideas into reality," said Byng. "We celebrate the winning design of Mechanical Engineering Technology - Auto Product Design student, Jimmy Mugenyi, and thank the WDBA for help in creating a lasting legacy of the creativity and problem-solving skills of this student and an inspiration for other students that follow."
"Jimmy's bold, abstract design, inspired by the bridge pillars, has officially come to life," said Sonja Popovski of St. Clair Research and Innovation. "This isn't just a win, it's a legacy."
"Jimmy's creativity will be part of our community for generations, showcasing local talent in a truly meaningful way."
The Community Benefits Plan which supported the competition will ultimately disperse $46 million to fund projects on both sides of the border. To date, 67 projects have been funded through the initiative.
Construction of the actual Gordie Howe International Bridge is nearing completion, with just two per cent of construction remaining. Crews are installing, testing and commissioning the final systems on the bridge - the longest cable-stayed bridge in North America - with an opening date scheduled in the near future.
