Gordie Howe International Bridge opens connecting Detroit and Windsor

The Gordie Howe International Bridge has opened to traffic, establishing a new major link between Detroit, Michigan, and Windsor, Ontario. As the longest cable-stayed bridge in North America, the structure features an 853-meter main span and twin towers standing 220 meters tall. The CA$6.4 billion project, funded by the Canadian federal government, connects Interstate 75 in the United States directly to Highway 401 in Ontario.

Initial usage data indicates significant early traffic, with Statistics Canada reporting that more than 41,000 people crossed the bridge into Canada within its first five days of operation. Designed by Erik Behrens of AECOM, the bridge includes six lanes of traffic and a dedicated multi-use pathway for pedestrians and cyclists.

The bridge serves as a critical piece of infrastructure for North American trade, providing a freeway-to-freeway connection that bypasses city streets. The project is expected to have a lifespan of 125 years, with costs to be recovered through tolls.