Traffic is scheduled to begin flowing Monday across the new Gordie Howe International Bridge, spanning the Detroit River and poised to become a crucial corridor for trade, jobs, and tourism between Canada and the United States. The bridge's opening marks the culmination of a multibillion-dollar project that has been years in the making.
Last week, Canada held a ribbon-cutting ceremony in Windsor, Ontario, to celebrate the bridge's completion. However, U.S. and Michigan representatives were not invited to the event. This exclusion followed President Donald Trump's recent announcement of a 50% tariff on Canadian goods entering the U.S.
The bridge is named in honor of Gordie Howe, a legendary Canadian hockey player known as “Mr. Hockey,” who played for the NHL’s Detroit Red Wings. Howe died in 2016.
The United States is Canada's largest trading partner, with over 70% of Canada's exports destined for the U.S. Detroit serves as the busiest port for truck traffic along the U.S.-Canada border, according to the U.S. Department of Transportation. For nearly a century, the privately-owned Ambassador Bridge has been the sole route for large commercial trucks traveling between the two countries at Detroit.
Businesses anticipate that the new six-lane span, measuring 1.5 miles (2.4 kilometers) long, will offer a faster and more cost-effective transportation option. Pedestrians and bicyclists with proper identification will be able to cross the bridge for free in the coming weeks.
Construction on the bridge commenced in 2018, with its progress impacted by global slowdowns, including those attributed to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Canada funded the construction of the bridge, with an estimated cost of $6.4 billion. A recent agreement stipulates that Canada will share a portion of the toll revenue with the U.S. government for a period of 15 years. President Trump commented on this arrangement via social media, stating, “We changed the terms.” Michigan is also set to receive a share of the revenue, though this is contingent on Canada recovering its initial construction costs, a process expected to take decades.
The bridge's highest point above the river reaches 151 feet (46 meters).