The long-awaited Gordie Howe International Bridge, connecting Windsor, Ontario, and Detroit, Michigan, will open to the public on July 27, officials announced Friday, resolving months of uncertainty after President Donald Trump threatened to block the project earlier this year.
Opening Date Confirmed
Canada's Ministry of Infrastructure declared in a statement: “Today, Canada and Michigan have agreed to open the Gordie Howe International Bridge on July 27, with the support of the United States Government.” The ministry emphasized that the bridge “will be a vital economic link between Canada and the US — generating billions of dollars in economic activity for decades to come.”
The CAN$6.4 billion ($4.5 billion) bridge has been under construction since 2018. It is named after the late Canadian hockey legend Gordie Howe, who played for the Detroit Red Wings, symbolizing the bond between the two nations.
Trump's Opposition and Resolution
In February, Trump threatened to entirely block the bridge, arguing that the United States had been treated unfairly in the construction process and demanding that the US should own “at least half” of the structure. Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney had stated last month that the inauguration was postponed indefinitely at the US request due to unspecified “technical issues.”
However, on Saturday, Trump reversed course, congratulating and thanking the Canadian government. On his Truth Social platform, he wrote: “I was able to cut a MUCH BETTER DEAL for America, and by so doing, will be allowing the new and spectacular Gordie Howe International Bridge, spanning Detroit and Windsor, Ontario, to open on July 27th, as scheduled. The original deal made was unacceptable to me! The new deal is great, and fair.”
Ownership and Financing
According to a fact sheet from the Windsor-Detroit Bridge Authority, the bridge was entirely financed by Canada and will be jointly owned by Canada and the US state of Michigan. The project is expected to significantly boost trade and economic activity between the two countries, serving as a critical transportation link for goods and travelers.
