A new $4.7 billion bridge connecting Detroit, Michigan, and Windsor, Ontario, is scheduled to open on July 27, following a resolution between the United States and Canada on toll revenue. The agreement was announced late Friday by the Canadian government, ending a period of uncertainty that had threatened to delay the opening of the Gordie Howe International Bridge.
President Donald Trump had previously cited financial concerns and threatened to block the bridge's opening, which had been slated for June. Canada announced it has reached a deal with the U.S. government that includes "a series of cooperative measures focused on toll governance and transparency, as well as investments in the region, including through the establishment of a 15-year economic development fund tied to a portion of profits from bridge operations."
Trump stated on Saturday that he had secured a "much better deal" for the United States, which he described as "great, and fair." A source confirmed that the U.S. will receive 50% of the toll revenue and will have the ability to veto any toll increase exceeding 10% of the current rates. U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick reportedly finalized the agreement after recent discussions with Canada's minister in charge of U.S. trade, Dominic LeBlanc.
The bridge project, which began construction in 2018, was financed by Canada after the U.S. declined to contribute. Repayment was planned through tolls over 30 years, and the impact of the new revenue split on this schedule was not immediately clear.
The Gordie Howe International Bridge is expected to alleviate truck traffic at the Ambassador Bridge, the busiest freight port on the U.S.-Canada border, which handled $126 billion in trade via commercial trucks in 2023. The new span is projected to reduce crossing times by 20 minutes, potentially saving truckers $2.3 billion over three decades, according to a University of Windsor study.
The bridge's opening had become a point of contention, particularly within Michigan's U.S. Senate race, as Republicans sought to maintain their congressional majority. A formal ribbon-cutting ceremony had initially been planned for mid-June. In February, Trump had raised objections related to Canada's stocking of U.S. alcoholic beverages, its tariffs on dairy products, and its trade talks with China as reasons for potentially blocking the bridge.
Matthew Moroun, owner of the rival Ambassador Bridge, had met with Lutnick in February. The Ambassador Bridge company had previously campaigned for years to prevent the construction of the new bridge.
This agreement follows a pattern of trade disputes between the Trump administration and Canada, including increased tariffs. Last month, Trump also indicated he might not renew the free trade agreement with Mexico and Canada.