New Gordie Howe Bridge Opens for Traffic Amid U.S. Tariff Announcement

Traffic across the newly completed Gordie Howe International Bridge over the Detroit River is scheduled to start Monday, providing an additional six-lane crossing for trade, commuters and tourists between the United States and Canada. The bridge, named after Canadian hockey legend Gordie Howe, was officially inaugurated in Windsor, Ontario, last week after years of construction that began in 2018 and faced delays due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The opening comes as President Donald Trump announced a 50% tariff on Canadian goods entering the United States, a move that was not communicated to U.S. or Michigan officials before the ribbon-cutting ceremony. > "We changed the terms," Trump wrote on social media, referencing a recent agreement under which Canada will share a portion of toll revenue with the U.S. government for 15 years.

The 1.5-mile span rises 151 feet above the river and will accommodate trucks, pedestrians and cyclists with proper identification. The bridge is expected to ease congestion on the privately owned Ambassador Bridge, which has been the sole large-truck crossing in the area for nearly a century. Canada funded the $6.4 billion project and will receive toll revenues until its construction costs are repaid, after which Michigan will begin receiving its share.

U.S. Department of Transportation data shows that more than 70% of Canadian exports go to the United States, making the new crossing a significant addition to the region’s trade infrastructure.