en.Wedoany.com Reported - The Gordie Howe International Bridge is set to officially open, with officials from the United States and Canada planning a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the new bridge connecting Michigan and Ontario. Despite threats from U.S. President Donald Trump earlier this year to block its opening, the ceremony is scheduled for June 12, and the bridge is expected to open to traffic on June 15.
The bridge, spanning the Detroit River, is named after the late Canadian hockey player Gordie Howe, who played for the Detroit Red Wings. Construction began in 2018, aiming to alleviate transportation congestion in the region, particularly for the automotive industry. Canada is covering the full construction cost of the bridge, which serves as an alternative to the privately owned Ambassador Bridge. A spokesperson for the Windsor-Detroit Bridge Authority, which operates the bridge, said the project team is on track for a spring opening, with more details to be shared in the coming days.
In February, Trump posted on social media that he would not allow the bridge to open until the U.S. receives "full compensation for everything we give Canada, and Canada treats us with the fairness and respect we deserve." There is no public indication that Trump's concerns have been resolved to his satisfaction. In April, U.S. Ambassador to Canada Pete Hoekstra told Detroit media that higher-than-expected costs and lower border traffic volumes raised questions about whether Michigan would still receive its fair share of revenue. The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment, and it is unclear whether it supports the bridge's opening.
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney praised the bridge's completion on June 9 in Ottawa as "a symbol of cooperation between the two countries and a fact of collaboration." He said the bridge would "open this weekend," without specifying whether he meant a ceremonial opening or actual traffic flow. Prior to this, U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick met with the owners of the Ambassador Bridge. Canada and Michigan have agreed to co-own the bridge, with toll revenue to be split once Canada recovers enough funds to cover costs. The decline in border traffic is partly attributed to some Canadian travelers avoiding the U.S. due to anger over Trump's recent "51st state" remarks targeting Canada.
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