WINDSOR, Ontario (AP) – Officials are coming together on Friday in Ontario to celebrate a new bridge between the U. S. and Canada over the Detroit River. This international structure is expected to boost trade for both countries and offer travelers an additional route.
A ceremony is happening in Windsor, Ontario, before the Gordie Howe International Bridge opens for traffic on Monday. It was initially planned as a joint celebration on the bridge with officials from both nations, but Canada opted out of a shared event after President Donald Trump announced 50% tariffs on Canadian goods entering the U. S. earlier this week.
“It’s regretful that we’re at this point in time with our trade relationship. We’re hopeful for better days ahead,” Windsor Mayor Drew Dilkens told WXYZ-TV in Detroit.
The Howe bridge will immediately introduce competition. For almost a century, the privately owned Ambassador Bridge has served as the sole route for large commercial trucks traveling between the U. S. and Canada at Detroit.
Detroit Mayor Mary Sheffield mentioned she had been invited to a two-country event Friday before circumstances changed unexpectedly.
“It will be vital for our economy,” Sheffield said about the bridge, avoiding a question regarding whether it had turned into a “political football” amid tensions between the nations.
The bridge is named after Howe, a well-known Canadian who played hockey for the NHL’s Detroit Red Wings until his passing in 2016. Construction began in 2018 and took years partly due to global delays caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
The six-lane bridge spans 1.5 miles (2.4 kilometers) long and reaches 151 feet (46 meters) above the Detroit River at its tallest point. In just a few weeks, pedestrians and cyclists with proper identification will be able to cross it for free.
Canada funded the construction of the bridge at an estimated cost of $6.4 billion. A recent agreement states that Canada will share some toll revenue with the U. S. government for 15 years. Michigan will also receive part of this revenue, but only once Canada’s expenses are recouped, which could take decades down the line.
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