3 articles · Updated · The Associated Press · Jun 9
Summary
Friday's ribbon-cutting will launch the Gordie Howe International Bridge, with traffic expected later this month on the new Detroit-Windsor span, Mark Carney said.
Trump had threatened in February to block the project unless Canada ceded at least 50% ownership to the U.S. federal government, tying the dispute to broader cross-border trade tensions.
Canada financed the bridge, while Michigan and Canada hold it 50-50, former Gov. Rick Snyder said; toll revenue is meant to repay Canada with interest.
The span, under construction since 2018, will add a second Detroit-Windsor crossing and ease pressure on the Ambassador Bridge, which carries about 25% of U.S.-Canada trade.
Canada paid $6.4 billion for a bridge it only co-owns. Will toll revenue be enough to repay the investment?
With a modern new competitor now open, what is the future for the aging, privately-owned Ambassador Bridge?
Political Showdown Over $4.7B Gordie Howe Bridge: Trump Threatens to Block Key U.S.-Canada Trade Link
Overview
The Gordie Howe International Bridge, a $4.7 billion project fully funded by Canada, is set to open with a ribbon-cutting ceremony on June 12, 2026, marking a milestone in U.S.-Canada cooperation. However, just days before the event, President Trump has threatened to block the bridge’s operation by declaring an emergency, creating uncertainty despite years of planning and joint ownership between Michigan and Canada. This last-minute standoff highlights the tension between public infrastructure goals and private interests, as well as the vulnerability of major cross-border projects to political decisions, even when all legal and operational requirements have been met.