Gordie Howe International Bridge opens July 27, ending years of delays
The $6.4-billion span connecting Ontario and Michigan will finally welcome motorists after repeated postponements and political complications.
The day's top stories, food & events — every morning at 7. Unsubscribe anytime.
The $6.4-billion Gordie Howe International Bridge will open to motorists on July 27, the federal government announced Friday, ending years of planning, construction delays, and behind-the-scenes political friction.
The bridge connects Windsor, Ontario, and Detroit, Michigan, and will serve as a critical trade corridor between the two countries. With a main span of 853 metres, it is the longest cable-stayed bridge span in North America and the 11th-longest in the world.
Federal negotiations between Canada and the U.S. recently established a 15-year economic development fund drawn from bridge profits. "After years of planning, partnership, and construction, the Gordie Howe International Bridge will soon be opening – providing a new connection for the region, while strengthening one of the world's most important trade corridors," said Gregor Robertson, Minister of Housing and Infrastructure.
Opening of the bridge had been repeatedly delayed, reportedly due to pressure from U.S. President Donald Trump, who has received significant campaign donations from the owner of the competing Ambassador Bridge.
