Gordie Howe International Bridge ribbon-cutting set for Friday
The long-awaited bridge connecting Windsor and Detroit will be formally opened this week after political pressure and negotiations with the Trump administration. Traffic opening date remains unclear.
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The Gordie Howe International Bridge connecting Windsor, Ontario and Detroit, Michigan is moving toward a public ribbon-cutting this Friday, marking a major milestone after years of delays and recent political turbulence.
Governor Gretchen Whitmer and former Michigan Governor Rick Snyder are expected to attend the ceremony, though the exact time has not been publicly confirmed. When the bridge will actually open to traffic remains unclear.
The ribbon-cutting represents progress following President Donald Trump's February demand that the United States be compensated before allowing the bridge to open. Prime Minister Mark Carney subsequently said he had spoken with Trump and expected the situation to be resolved.
Tara Carson, director of communication for the Windsor-Detroit Bridge Authority, said the project team is "progressing well towards a spring opening of the Gordie Howe International Bridge, which will be a vital economic link between the two countries." Additional details will be shared in the coming days.
The bridge's ownership is shared between Michigan and the Government of Canada. Ottawa signed a 2012 deal with former Governor Rick Snyder under which Canada agreed to shoulder construction costs and recoup its investment through tolls, with proceeds later split with the state.
The project has faced significant pushback from members of the Moroun family, who own the competing Ambassador Bridge. U.S. House Democrats have launched an investigation into whether the billionaire family obstructed the Gordie Howe bridge's opening, including a meeting between Matthew Moroun and U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick shortly before Trump's social media attack on the project.
During a recent Senate hearing, Democratic Senator Gary Peters of Michigan asked Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin whether U.S. Customs and Border Protection was prepared for "trade and travel" at the bridge. Mullin said personnel are ready, though a contractor had not yet signed off on final work despite a May 1 deadline. "We're prepared. We're staffed. We're ready to go," he said, but noted ongoing negotiations between Canada and the United States continue.
The bridge is named after legendary Canadian hockey player Gordie Howe, who led the Detroit Red Wings to four Stanley Cup victories. Ground was broken in 2018, launching construction, but the project has faced numerous delays.