Gordie Howe International Bridge officially opens to traffic between Windsor and Detroit
The Gordie Howe International Bridge officially opened to traffic on Monday, marking the first new crossing between Michigan and Ontario in over 60 years. The $6.4 billion project, which began construction in 2018, provides a direct highway-to-highway connection between Highway 401 and Interstate-75. It is expected to replace the privately-owned Ambassador Bridge as the primary route for large commercial trucks, offering a faster and more efficient flow of goods and people between the United States and Canada. During the inaugural crossing, members of the Howe family, including Gordie Howe's grandson, Gordie Howe, crossed the bridge first. Jim Pereira of Onfreight Logistics led the first commercial crossing, noting the bridge's vast design and technology will improve safety and security for the trucking industry. While U.S. representatives were uninvited from the ribbon-cutting ceremony due to 50% tariffs on Canadian goods imposed by the administration, the bridge remains a critical trade route. The administration announced a deal where Canada will share some toll revenue with the U.S. government for 15 years.