Understanding the Gordie Howe Bridge Amid Trump’s Claims

U. S. Democrats are looking into the connection between President Donald Trump and the owner of the Ambassador Bridge, which connects Detroit and Windsor, Ont., after Trump threatened to block the opening of a rival crossing – the Gordie Howe International Bridge.

The Gordie Howe is a new six-lane, cable-stayed bridge that also links Windsor and Detroit, and it’s expected to open in just a few months.

“I will not allow this bridge to open until the United States is fully compensated for everything we have given them,” Trump wrote on social media earlier this month, “and also, importantly, Canada treats the United States with the Fairness and Respect that we deserve.”

The Canadian government funded all $6.4 billion for the Gordie Howe bridge and plans to recover those costs through tolls.

Here’s more about this new bridge and its connection to ongoing tensions involving President Trump and the owner of the Ambassador Bridge.

Who owns the Gordie Howe bridge?

It’s co-owned by Canada and Michigan, built by workers from both countries using materials sourced from each side.

The bridge is named after Gordie Howe, a famous Canadian hockey player who spent 25 seasons with the Detroit Red Wings. Born in Saskatchewan, he passed away at age 88 in Ohio.

The Gordie Howe bridge, shown while under construction in May 2024, is jointly owned by Canada, which fully financed it, and Michigan. (Patrick Morrell/CBC)

Why does this bridge matter?

This project came out of discussions between lawmakers from both nations that began early in this century due to worries that existing crossings wouldn’t be able to handle an expected rise in traffic.

Right now, there are two crossings between Windsor and Detroit:

A tunnel that’s half-owned by Windsor. The four-lane Ambassador Bridge that opened in 1929 is currently privately held by an American billionaire.

Of these two options, only the Ambassador can accommodate large trucks at present.

The Windsor-Detroit route is the busiest commercial land crossing on the Canada-U. S. border, managing around 25 percent of truck trade between both countries as per Ottawa’s data.

Who exactly owns the Ambassador Bridge?

Matthew Moroun bought it in 1979; he’s Manuel (Matty) Moroun’s son.

The elder Moroun had a rocky relationship with communities on both sides of the border. He faced jail time from a Michigan judge for contempt of court back in 2012 because he didn’t complete required road work on time among other issues regarding repairs mandated by Transport Canada in 2015.

Matthew Moroun, pictured here in June 2018, is now known as billionaire owner of the Ambassador Bridge. When it first opened to public use in 1929, Joseph Bower was its owner before going bankrupt during The Depression. It was previously publicly held until it became part of Moroun’s holdings. (The Associated Press)

The Moroun family had their own plans for building another span between Windsor and Detroit; they bought several properties around West Windsor and Sandwich Town neighborhoods but ended up leaving them vacant and dilapidated leading to legal disputes with local residents as well as city officials. The Canadian permit for constructing their proposed bridge expired back in 2022 due to conflicting terms between U. S. and Canadian regulations.

Matty Moroun died in 2020.

In response to blockade protests at his bridge back in 2022 Matthew attempted reconciliation efforts with City officials but recent events have once again worsened relations according to Windsor Mayor Drew Dilkens.

How does Ambassadors’ ownership relate to Gordie Howe?

The Moroun family has long tried preventing any competition arising from a new crossing that could impact their toll income stream.
</

< blockquotefor=”22lawsuitsaimingto slow or halt”Gordie Howe’sconstruction”=according_to_a_2025briefing_noteforthe Federal Infrastructure Ministerthatwasobtainedby CBCthroughafreedomof-informationrequest=>/strong/p>

< Governmentsin Canadaand Michiganhavemeetwithsuccessagainstallofthesechallengeshoweverthreecasesremainoutstanding,”thedocumentstated.”</strong>

< Windsor-Detroit Bridge Authorityoverseesthe Gordie Howebridgehasallegedthe Morouns’campaignisbasedonmisinformationaroundtheprojectfromtelevisionadsin2018whichlobbied Trumpintorevokingpermitswhilefalselyclaiming Canadianstoownentirebridge></strong></blockquoteblocked"The Morouns havedone12yearsago.></strong/p>

>

dwhyare Democratsinvestigatingthe Moroundfamily?>

< p>&”On Feb10, the New York Timesreported Trump’ssocialmediaattackcamejusthoursafter Matthew Morountalkedto U. S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnickin Washington-then Lutnickspokeonthephonewithpresident.”
‘Itlookslikeyoumayhaveusedyourinfluenceasadonorto President Donald Trump’tojoperdize Americancommerceprotectionprofitbottomline.”California Rep. Robert Garciaand Michigan Rep. Rashida Tlaibwroteanoticefor Morountoexplainhisactions.’
>

>

< p>&”Whiletheremaynotbeacertainopeningdateforthe Gordie Howe Bridgeitappearsofficialsareworkingtowardgettingitoperational”beforefinalizingdetailswithborder-agencies.
Accordingto Canada Border Services Agency(CBSA), theybeganoccupyingtheirportentrybuildingandestablishingequipment
Aspokespersonfrom U. S. Customsand Border Protectionstatedonthe9thof February,’Generalpreparationsareongoingconsistentwithestablishedsecurityprotocolsatourportsentry”‘

Source link