A new international bridge between Windsor and Detroit will mean jobs for the region — and not just in the construction sector — experts and union leaders predict.

Local service businesses are looking forward to the bump in business.

Rejean Gascon manages the Applebee's restaurant on Huron Church Road.

It was expropriated from its original address and moved up the road to make room for the $1.4-billion Windsor-Essex Parkway, which will link Highway 401 to the new bridge.

Gascon business is already booming due, in part, to the parkway project. He expects more customers when work starts on the bridge.

"Especially in the lunchtime. All the workers on the parkway itself are coming in to have lunch or dinner," he said. " If there's more business, you need to increase those jobs inside the restaurant to be able to take care of your guests.

"So, we'd probably add more as the increase in business would happen."

Some job analysts have said about 350 full-time jobs were created with t he parkway project, not including spinoffs. They add the bridge will require even more workers.

Mark Dugal, with the Iron Workers union in Windsor, agreed.

"It'd be huge for the city; all of the spin-off jobs and the bridge itself. We have iron workers in Vancouver working on a couple bridges right now and they'll be coming home to go to work," he said. "So that'd be pretty awesome."

Prime Minister Stephen Harper and Governor of Michigan Rick Snyder are expected to officially announce a deal to proceed with the bridge Friday.