After some eight years and more than $4.5 million, the Gordie Howe International Bridge opens today. The 1.5 mile-long, cable-stayed bridge is expected to carry more than 2 million commercial vehicles a year between Detroit and Windsor, Ontario.
A long-awaited official ribbon cutting was cancelled after President Trump announced a new round of 50% tariffs on some Canadian goods because smoke from Canadian wildfires blew into the U.S. Instead, a Canada-only ceremony was held last Friday in Windsor.
Trump had earlier threatened to block the opening of the bridge. In a post on Truth Social in February, Trump said, ""I will not allow this bridge to open until the United States is fully compensated for everything we have given them, and also, importantly, Canada treats the United States with the Fairness and Respect that we deserve."
Canada paid for the construction of the bridge. Still, an agreement was reached to dedicate a portion of tolls for an economic development fund for 15 years.
The bridge has 24 inspection lanes on the Canadian side and 36 in the U.S. There is a permanent structure housing a scale and imaging equipment for drive=through secondary inspections.
Truck tolls on the bridge are $8.75 per axle for commercial vehicles. But, a special discount prpgram for frequent users lowers that to $6.90 per axle.
The Canadian Trucking Alliance used the opening of the bridge to comment on Trump's tariffs and the importance of the U.S.-Canada trade partnership.
A statement from the CTA called the bridge "a monumental achievement that will shape our nation’s infrastructure, trade, and goods movement for decades to come." It added that despite Trump's tariffs, "the bridge’s purpose remains unchanged: it is an economic lifeline built to connect two great trading nations."
The CTA added, "The current trade dispute and the threat of new tariffs will inflict unnecessary collateral damage on both countries, directly affecting the 36 U.S. states and numerous Canadian provinces whose economies depend on one of the world’s most integrated supply chains.
"These tariffs would increase freight costs, create border congestion, disrupt supply chains, and ultimately raise prices for consumers on both sides of the border. Continued uncertainty and abrupt policy shifts undermine business confidence and investment at a time when stability and predictability are needed most."
The CTA saikd it urges both governments to pursue a negotiated solution and resolve current trade disputes through the dispute settlement mechanisms established under the Canada–United States–Mexico Agreement.
"Our wheels will keep turning," said the CTA "Our members will continue delivering the goods that keep businesses operating, store shelves stocked, and economies growing on both sides of the border. The Gordie Howe International Bridge will stand as an enduring symbol of continental partnership – long after today’s political headwinds have passed."
