Key facts
- The Gordie Howe International Bridge, connecting Canada and the U.S., is set to have a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Friday.
- Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney indicated the bridge's opening to traffic might take longer than initially expected.
- U.S. President Donald Trump had previously demanded significant ownership concessions from Canada for the bridge.
- The bridge project was financed by Canada and negotiated by former Michigan Governor Rick Snyder.
- The bridge is jointly owned by Canada and the U.S. state of Michigan.
The opening of the Gordie Howe International Bridge, a new Canadian-built crossing over the Detroit River that U.S. President Donald Trump had previously threatened to block, may take longer than anticipated. Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney stated that while a ribbon-cutting ceremony is scheduled for Friday, the bridge might not open to traffic immediately.
Carney indicated that efforts are underway to open the bridge as soon as possible, but if it takes "a little longer it will take a little bit longer." He emphasized the bridge's long-term benefits for Canadians, Americans, businesses, tourists, and residents. The bridge, named after the late Canadian hockey legend Gordie Howe, connects Windsor, Ontario, and Detroit, Michigan, and is intended to ease congestion at the existing Ambassador Bridge and Detroit-Windsor tunnel.
The project was negotiated by former Michigan Governor Rick Snyder and financed by Canada, with Michigan and the U.S. federal government holding a 50/50 ownership stake. In February, Trump had demanded that Canada turn over at least half of the bridge's ownership to the U.S. federal government, along with other unspecified demands, as part of his assertive stance on cross-border trade issues ahead of the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement review.