Gordie Howe International Bridge Opens to Traffic, Providing a New Trade Route Between the United States and Canada
The Gordie Howe International Bridge officially opened to vehicle traffic on Monday, providing a new six-lane span for trade, jobs, and tourism between the U.S. and Canada. The bridge, named for the Canadian hockey icon Gordie Howe, serves as a critical route for commercial trucks, offering a faster and less expensive alternative to the privately-owned Ambassador Bridge. Construction on the project began in 2018 and was completed at an estimated cost of $6.4 billion paid by Canada. While U.S. and Michigan representatives were uninvited from a ribbon-cutting ceremony in Windsor, Ontario, the administration announced a deal where Canada will share some toll revenue with the U.S. government for 15 years. President Trump praised the administration for this agreement during the event. The first car to cross the bridge was driven by Gordie Howe's grandson, Gordie Howe, and his wife, Margaret. The bridge is expected to provide significant economic benefits as Detroit remains the top port for truck traffic on the U.S.-Canada border.