Gordie Howe International Bridge slated for opening amid US‑Canada trade tensions

The $4.7 billion Gordie Howe International Bridge, linking Windsor, Ontario and Detroit, Michigan, is scheduled to open to traffic later this month, with a ribbon‑cutting ceremony expected before the end of the week. Canada fully financed the project and will recover its investment through tolls, after which revenue will be split with Michigan. Ownership of the span is shared equally between the Canadian government and the U.S. state of Michigan.

President Donald Trump previously warned that the bridge would not open until the United States received compensation, prompting diplomatic talks between Prime Minister Mark Carney and the White House. Carney said the issue is expected to be resolved and highlighted the bridge as a symbol of bilateral cooperation.

The project has faced legal challenges and lobbying from the Moroun family, owners of the competing Ambassador Bridge, and U.S. House Democrats are investigating whether the family sought to obstruct the opening. Despite these disputes, U.S. Customs and Border Protection officials say staffing and systems are ready for the new crossing.

When operational, the six‑lane bridge will handle about 400 commercial vehicles per hour, easing congestion on the Ambassador Bridge and the Detroit‑Windsor tunnel, and supporting the roughly $100 billion in annual trade that moves through the corridor.