Key facts
- A new six-lane bridge, the Gordie Howe International Bridge, connecting Canada and the U.S. over the Detroit River is set to open for traffic on Monday.
- The bridge's opening follows a ribbon-cutting ceremony in Windsor, Ontario, which U.S. and Michigan representatives were uninvited from due to U.S. tariffs on Canadian goods.
- The bridge is a critical route for trade, jobs, and tourism, aiming to be faster and less expensive than the existing Ambassador Bridge.
- Canada funded the multibillion-dollar project, estimated at $6.4 billion, and will share toll revenue with the U.S. for 15 years.
Traffic is scheduled to commence on Monday across the newly constructed Gordie Howe International Bridge, a significant infrastructure project spanning the Detroit River between Canada and the United States. The bridge, named in honor of Canadian hockey legend Gordie Howe, aims to streamline trade, boost jobs, and enhance tourism by offering a faster and more cost-effective route than the existing Ambassador Bridge, which has been the sole crossing for large commercial trucks for nearly a century.
The completion of the multibillion-dollar, multiyear project was marked by a ribbon-cutting ceremony in Windsor, Ontario. However, the celebratory event was overshadowed by a sudden announcement from U.S. President Donald Trump imposing 50% tariffs on Canadian goods. This development led to the uninvitation of U.S. and Michigan representatives from the ceremony.
Construction on the six-lane span, which measures 1.5 miles (2.4 kilometers) in length and reaches a height of 151 feet (46 meters) above the river, began in 2018. The project experienced delays, partly due to the global slowdown caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Canada financed the entire construction, with an estimated cost of $6.4 billion. Under a recent agreement, Canada will share a portion of the toll revenue with the U.S. government for 15 years, while Michigan is slated to receive a share only after Canada's initial costs are recouped, a process expected to take decades.