- Canada will celebrate the Gordie Howe bridge's opening today, July 24, 2026.
- The $6.4-billion cable bridge will open to traffic on July 27 after months of postponements, and to cyclists/walkers on Aug. 5.
- Windsor Mayor Drew Dilkens called the region the 'beating heart of trade in Canada.'
- Infrastructure Minister Gregor Robertson said the bridge has 24 inspection lanes on the Canadian side and 36 on the Detroit side, and will save carriers 850,000 hours a year.
- Ontario Premier Doug Ford referenced Gordie Howe's 'elbows up' and said 'That bond will last for another 200 years' regarding Canada-U.S. relations.
- Michigan supporters displayed a banner saying 'Canada, we’re sorry. ❤️ Michigan'.
- Mark Howe said his father 'was so much better a human being than he was a hockey player,' and Chief Nikki van Oirschot of Caldwell First Nation hoped the bridge would be a 'symbol of friendship.'
Canada is set to celebrate the opening of the Gordie Howe International Bridge today, a significant infrastructure project valued at $6.4 billion.
The bridge will connect Windsor, Ontario, to Detroit, Michigan, enhancing one of Canada's busiest commercial border crossings.
Windsor Mayor Drew Dilkens emphasized the region's importance, calling it the 'beating heart of trade in Canada.'5
The bridge features 24 inspection lanes on the Canadian side and 36 on the Detroit side, which Infrastructure Minister Gregor Robertson noted will save carriers approximately 850,000 hours a year in border crossing time.6
The opening ceremony will be attended solely by Canadian officials due to U.S. President Donald Trump's recent tariff threats, which have strained relations.
The bridge is scheduled to open for traffic on July 27 and will allow cyclists and walkers starting August 5.
Ontario Premier Doug Ford referenced Gordie Howe's sportsmanship, stating that Canadians and Americans share a lasting bond: 'That bond will last for another 200 years.'7
Chief Nikki van Oirschot of Caldwell First Nation expressed hope that the bridge will symbolize friendship, asking the Creator to watch over all who cross it.910
The bridge's toll revenue agreement allows Canada to receive 50 percent of net toll revenues for the first 15 years, with the remainder going to a U.S.-controlled economic development fund.
“The $6.4-billion bridge will open to traffic July 27 after months of postponements. Infrastructure Minister Gregor Robertson said its 24 inspection lanes will save carriers 850,000 hours a year, as Windsor Mayor Drew Dilkens called the region the 'beating heart of trade in Canada.'”
