Canada and the United States have finalized a new revenue-sharing pact to open the Gordie Howe International Bridge.
Canada and the United States have reached a new agreement to open the Gordie Howe International Bridge, which will officially open to traffic on Monday. The pact clarifies how toll revenue will be distributed, addressing previous uncertainty regarding the $6.4-billion project. Under the new terms, toll revenue will first cover operating expenses such as maintenance and staffing. The remaining surplus will be split equally between Canada and a U.S. federal economic development fund for the first 15 years. This arrangement allows Canada to begin paying down its construction debt immediately, while the U.S. portion supports trade between the two nations. The agreement maintains the original 2012 deal, which stipulates that once Canada's debt is fully paid off, toll revenue will be split with the state of Michigan. The new pact also grants the U.S. government more control over toll rate adjustments. The bridge serves as a vital link between Windsor and Detroit, designed to alleviate commercial truck congestion at the nearby Ambassador Bridge.