Gordie Howe bridge opens Monday after decades
Add Axios as your preferred source to
see more of our stories on Google.
Kids play street hockey on the Gordie Howe bridge's deck during Friday's "Canadian Celebration." Photos: Joe Guillen/Axios
The long-awaited Gordie Howe International Bridge opens to traffic at noon Monday despite U.S.-Canada trade tensions that scrapped plans for a joint ribbon-cutting ceremony.
Why it matters: After decades of planning, construction and political battles, the new Detroit-Windsor crossing provides an alternative to the Ambassador Bridge while adding another major gateway for trade and travel.
Catch up quick: Canadian officials marked the occasion Friday with a "Canadian Celebration" that drew members of the Howe family, government officials and others who helped build the bridge.
- President Trump posted to social media during the event, saying the U.S. was "disinvited" to the opening.
What they're saying: Officials emphasized the cooperative spirit behind the bridge's construction and the benefits it will provide to everyday travelers and freight haulers alike.
- "From a regular person's perspective, certainly it's going to make your travel faster, smoother, easier," Canada Border Services Agency district director Sydney Kale said Friday.
Before you go: Here are some tips to keep in mind before crossing the Gordie Howe.
- Travelers will need the same documents required at any other U.S.-Canada crossing, such as a passport, NEXUS card or enhanced driver's license.
- A one-way passenger toll costs $5.75, or $4.35 for drivers enrolled in the bridge's Breakaway toll program. That's lower than the standard passenger toll at both the Ambassador Bridge and the Detroit-Windsor Tunnel, though the Ambassador also offers discounted prepaid rates.
- Pedestrians and cyclists will have to wait a little longer. The bridge's multi-use path opens Aug. 5.
Zoom in: The bridge was built to keep traffic moving.
- Its 24 Canadian inspection lanes can be reassigned, based on demand throughout the day for passenger vehicles, commercial trucks, NEXUS travelers and FAST travelers.
- The direct connection between Highway 401 and I-75 was designed to reduce time spent navigating local roads, particularly for truck traffic.
By the numbers: It took about 25 years for the project to move from early planning to opening.
- $6.4 billion CAD: Cost to build the Gordie Howe International Bridge and related infrastructure.
- Its 720-foot towers are among the region's tallest structures.
💭 Joe's thought bubble: One thing surprised me while standing on the bridge deck Friday: the view. Unlike the Ambassador Bridge, which frames Detroit's skyline, the Gordie Howe is surrounded by smokestacks, freight infrastructure and open industrial land. I could barely see Detroit from where I was standing.
What's next: Drivers, truckers and other travelers are expected to begin using the bridge at noon Monday.