The Gordie Howe International Bridge, a new crossing connecting Detroit, Michigan, and Windsor, Ontario, is expected to open by the end of July 2026, according to sources familiar with the project. The bridge was completed earlier this year but faced a delay due to a dispute between the United States and Canada over customs and border operations.
The bridge, named after the legendary Canadian hockey player, is a six-lane cable-stayed structure that spans the Detroit River. It is the first new international crossing between the two countries in the region since the Ambassador Bridge opened in 1929.
Officials have not disclosed the exact nature of the dispute, but it reportedly involved disagreements over staffing and inspection protocols at the border. The delay pushed back the original opening date, which had been anticipated for spring 2026.
Once open, the bridge is expected to ease congestion on the Ambassador Bridge and the Detroit-Windsor Tunnel, handling up to 10,000 trucks per day. The project, which cost approximately $5.7 billion, is a public-private partnership funded by both governments.
The opening will mark a significant milestone for trade between the U.S. and Canada, as the Detroit-Windsor corridor is the busiest commercial border crossing in North America.
