- Traffic started moving across the Gordie Howe International Bridge just after 11:30 a.m., marking the culmination of years of construction and decades of planning for a project expected to reshape the movement of people and goods between Canada and the United States.
- The bridge was formally inaugurated during a ribbon-cutting ceremony attended by representatives from the federal and provincial government, the Windsor-Detroit Bridge Authority, Bridging North America and members of the Howe family.
- Construction began in October 2018 and involved more than 15,800 workers over 20.1 million work hours.
- The Gordie Howe International Bridge is the first new crossing between Michigan and Ontario in more than 60 years, creating a direct highway-to-highway connection along a corridor where roughly $300 billion in trade flows between both countries each year.
- The bridge features 16 toll lanes and 60 Canada and U.S. inspection lanes for commercial and passenger vehicles, designed to ease congestion and improve the flow of cross-border traffic.
- The bridge’s twin 220-metre towers rank among the tallest structures in the region, while its main span is the longest cable-stayed bridge in North America.
The Gordie Howe International Bridge officially opened to traffic on Monday, July 27, 2026, with the first vehicles crossing the $6.4 billion structure connecting Windsor and Detroit.14
Traffic started moving across the six-lane bridge just after 11:30 a.m., marking the culmination of years of construction and decades of planning for a project expected to reshape the movement of people and goods between Canada and the United States.3
Designed to ease congestion and improve the flow of cross-border traffic, the crossing features 16 toll lanes and 60 Canada and U.S. inspection lanes for commercial and passenger vehicles.5
Construction began in October 2018 and involved more than 15,800 workers over 20.1 million work hours.
The bridge’s twin 220-metre towers rank among the tallest structures in the region, while its main span is the longest cable-stayed bridge in North America.6
The crossing was formally inaugurated during a ribbon-cutting ceremony attended by representatives from the federal and provincial government, the Windsor-Detroit Bridge Authority, Bridging North America, and members of the Howe family.2
Windsor-Detroit Bridge Authority chair Marie Campagna expressed that the organization was “honoured and immensely proud” to welcome the first travellers across the bridge.
A toll-free multi-use path for pedestrians and cyclists is scheduled to open on August 5.
“The bridge, which features 16 toll lanes and 60 inspection lanes, is expected to reshape the movement of people and goods between Canada and the U.S., facilitating roughly $300 billion in trade annually. Windsor-Detroit Bridge Authority chair Marie Campagna expressed pride in the project, highlighting its potential to unite communities and strengthen economies.”
The Walrus
