Gordie Howe Bridge opening delayed as U.S. negotiates terms
The $6.4-billion Windsor-Detroit crossing won't open Friday as planned; U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick is leading efforts to resolve outstanding issues.
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The Gordie Howe International Bridge opening has been delayed at the request of the United States as Canada and the U.S. attempt to resolve outstanding issues.
Invitations had already been sent for a ribbon-cutting event scheduled for Friday to mark the opening of the $6.4-billion bridge connecting Windsor and Detroit. But on Thursday morning, the interim chief executive of the Windsor-Detroit Bridge Authority said the two countries agreed to postpone.
U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick has been leading the charge on the bridge within the Trump administration, according to a White House official speaking on background Friday. Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer spoke with the White House recently about the bridge but was not given approval to proceed.
Another source said Lutnick and U.S. Ambassador to Canada Pete Hoekstra intervened in the file this week. Earlier this week, a Canadian source with knowledge of planning said all signs Ottawa received indicated the bridge was cleared to open.
The Gordie Howe project has long faced heavy pushback from the billionaire Moroun family, who own the competing Ambassador Bridge and are longtime Republican donors. House Democrats launched an investigation earlier this year into whether the Morouns took action to obstruct the bridge's opening.