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Traffic to start flowing across new bridge between Canada and U.S. amid Trump's tariff battle
PBS • • nation
Key Points:
- The Gordie Howe International Bridge over the Detroit River is set to open Monday, providing a vital new route for trade, jobs, and tourism between Canada and the U.S.
- Canada recently celebrated the bridge's completion with a ribbon-cutting ceremony in Windsor, Ontario, though U.S. and Michigan officials were uninvited due to President Trump's sudden announcement of 50% tariffs on Canadian goods.
- The six-lane, 1.5-mile bridge will ease commercial traffic, which has relied on the privately-owned Ambassador Bridge for nearly a century, and will allow pedestrians and bicyclists to cross for free soon.
- Canada funded the $6.4 billion project and will share toll revenue with the U.S. government for 15 years; Michigan will receive a portion of the revenue only after Canada's costs are fully recovered.
- Construction began in 2018 and faced delays partly due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but the new bridge is expected to improve efficiency and reduce costs for cross-border trade.
