The long-awaited opening of a new bridge connecting the United States and Canada has been delayed again, according to the Canadian organization overseeing construction. The Gordie Howe International Bridge, named for legendary NHL player Gordie Howe who starred for the Detroit Red Wings, was scheduled to hold a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Friday but that event has now been canceled. Officials have not announced when the bridge will open.
Chuck Andary of the Windsor-Detroit Bridge Authority (WDBA), a Canadian federal Crown corporation, confirmed in a statement that 'Canada and the United States have agreed to delay the opening of the bridge, taking the necessary time to resolve any outstanding issues.' The WDBA did not specify what those unresolved issues are or when an opening date might be set.
Construction on the project linking Windsor, Ontario, to Detroit, Michigan began in 2012018 and has faced delays from the Covid-19 pandemic as well as previous threats from President Donald Trump to shut down the crossing. Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said earlier this week that while the bridge might not open on time, there was 'no big drama,' adding that officials were 'working hard to make sure the bridge is open as soon as possible.'
What the Right Is Saying
The Moroun family, American owners of the neighboring Ambassador Bridge that also connects Detroit to Canada, have lobbied President Trump to stop construction of the new bridge. They argued the project infringed on their exclusive ability to collect tolls at one of the few privately owned border crossings between the two countries. While Drew Dilkens said he understands the family's business interests, he noted the new crossing serves critical infrastructure purposes.
The White House has not commented on the delay. The project was originally negotiated by former Michigan Governor Rick Snyder, a Republican, and represents a significant cross-border infrastructure investment that has proven contentious for more than a decade before construction even began.
What the Left Is Saying
Windsor Mayor Drew Dilkens told the BBC he was informed the ribbon-cutting ceremony and opening had been canceled without explanation. He said he believes President Trump is behind the delay, stating: 'I think that would be the only logical conclusion, that Donald Trump didn't want it to open, and therefore it shall not open.' The mayor emphasized the bridge is fully built and ready for traffic.
Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer, a Democrat, has supported the project along with Democratic Senator Elissa Slotkin, arguing the bridge will bring jobs and economic benefits to both countries. Wilkens said the bridge was designed in part as a safety measure, providing an alternative crossing in case of catastrophic incidents at the existing Ambassador Bridge, as well as accommodating increased trade between the nations.
What the Numbers Show
The Gordie Howe International Bridge project is estimated to have cost $6.4 billion Canadian dollars, equivalent to approximately £3.4 billion. The bridge is fully constructed according to local officials. Last year, Canadian travel to the United States declined by 20 percent, costing the US economy an estimated more than $4 billion, according to figures from the US Travel Association. Trump imposed new tariffs on Canada and other allies as part of a broader trade conflict that began after his return to office, while also suggesting he wants Canada to become a '51st state.'
The Bottom Line
The delay comes amid ongoing tensions between Canada and the United States following Trump's tariff policies and comments about Canadian sovereignty. Mayor Dilkens said many Canadians have been 'protesting the Trump administration with their wallets' by avoiding travel to the US, and expressed hope that opening the bridge might ease some bilateral tension. 'We want to get back to normal,' he said. 'Having this opportunity to release a little steam out of the valve and allow people just to live their lives in a different way... I think will help - in some very small way - ease some of the tension.' The WDBA says both countries remain committed to finding an opening date through what it called a 'collaborative approach,' though no timeline has been set.