After months of delay, the Gordie Howe International Bridge is open to traffic on Monday even as the U.S. trade war on Canada continues.
While Canadian officials marked the opening ceremony for the bridge on Friday, the public was able to drive on the newly constructed bridge starting at noon eastern on Monday.
Prime Minister Mark Carney hailed the opening of the bridge.
“Spanning the river between Windsor and Detroit, this project strengthens one of our busiest trade corridors and supports economic growth on both sides of the border for generations to come,” Carney’s office said in a statement.
The Canada Border Services Agency said it began operations at the Gordie Howe bridge crossing.
The bridge is named after Canadian hockey icon Gordie Howe, who played much of his professional career with the Detroit Red Wings. Howe’s family undertook the first crossing over the bridge in their private vehicle.
A truck belonging to Onfreight Logistics, a trucking company based in Tecumseh, Ont., became the first commercial vehicle to cross the Gordie Howe Bridge on Monday. The truck was carrying auto parts bound for Michigan’s auto-manufacturing industry.
Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer also crossed the bridge on Monday, in a black convertible.
“This morning, I got behind the wheel of a Michigan-built Ford Mustang to mark the official opening,” Whitmer posted on social media Monday.
“I fought to open this bridge to build the economy and connect Michiganders to opportunities on both sides of the Detroit River,” she added.
The opening of the bridge is “exciting and historic,” Chuck Andary, interim CEO of the Windsor-Detroit Bridge Authority said in a statement Monday.
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“We are preparing to welcome travellers across the Gordie Howe International Bridge,” a message on the Gordie Howe International Bridge Authority website read on Monday morning.
Gary Peters, a Michigan senator, rode the first motorcycle across the bridge.
“This bridge is a huge win for Michigan residents, workers, and businesses, and a boon for our state’s economy,” Peters said.
Representative Debbie Dingle said Canada and the U.S. are “stronger when we work together, not when we create unnecessary barriers between allies.”
The opening of the bridge, which provides a second road link connecting Michigan and Ontario, comes as the Canada-U.S. trade war has been intensifying with U.S. President Donald Trump’s threat of fresh 50 per cent tariffs on Canada next month.
Representative Haley Stevens of Michigan said the opening of the bridge was “long-overdue.”
“It couldn’t have happened without the hard work of Governor Whitmer and our friends in Canada,” she said.
Travellers have to pay a toll of $8 per personal vehicle, in addition to $8 per trailer if they are driving a personal vehicle with a trailer.
Anyone taking a large commercial or passenger vehicle or a hazardous or oversized vehicle will have to pay $12 per axle.
The massive infrastructure project is “more than just a bridge,” Housing and Infrastructure Minister Greg Robertson said on Friday.
“This bridge is a testament of what we can build when we work together,” he said.
Why was the bridge delayed?
In February, Trump threatened to block the opening of the bridge.
“I will not allow this bridge to open until the United States is fully compensated for everything we have given them, and also, importantly, Canada treats the United States with the Fairness and Respect that we deserve. We will start negotiations, IMMEDIATELY,” Trump wrote on social media.
Canada paid entirely for the construction of the bridge, but it is jointly owned by Canada and Michigan.
On July 10, after months of negotiations, Robertson and Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer announced that the bridge would be opening on July 27, following a new revenue-sharing agreement.
What’s the new agreement?
The federal government on Tuesday released the text of what it called an agreement in principle with the United States for the Gordie Howe International Bridge, which outlines how revenues could be collected — and shared — for a project entirely financed by Canadian taxpayers.
Portions of it appear to contradict what Prime Minister Mark Carney has said about how money will be split and how much the U.S. will get before Canadians are repaid for the debt of the bridge.
Carney said last week that Canada will not share any tolls collected from the bridge until Canada’s $6.4-billion debt from building it is repaid, but he also said that “net revenues” will be split over 15 years.
“Splitting of tolls, any sharing of the toll, won’t happen until all of the debt is repaid,” Carney told reporters on July 16.
However, the text of the agreement in principle states that Canada will make payments to the U.S. totalling 50 per cent of “net bridge and crossing related revenues” for 15 years and doesn’t clearly define what counts as operating costs or make mention of Canada’s debt.
But Canada sharing any portion of the bridge’s revenues, including from tolls, means it may take longer for Canada to make back the money paid to build the bridge in the first place.
The House of Commons government operations committee is expected to meet on Wednesday to discuss a call from opposition members to investigate Carney’s handling of the bridge deal.
– with files from Global’s Ari Rabinovitch
@Stars and Stripes. Respectfully, if the US is so powerful, why can’t it defeat Iran? Why did it run away in defeat from Afghanistan, Iraq and Vietnam? Why is it lower than Canada on world freedom and democracy indices? Bluster and bragging like Trump does is not a flex.
The best thing for the USA was Trump and MAGA. American is a Superpower while Canada is irrelevant.
Stars and Stripes.
July 28, 2026 at 3:47 am
American is superior and stronger the. Canada. Please go Elbows Up so
Trump can absolutely crush Carney and his cronies. MAGA Movement is amazing
The scourge of the world. MAGA needs a bullet to head.
Oh so what!? It was nothing but a bunch of fatheaded politicians on both sides of the river looking for brownie points and a photo op. Nothing more. Canada got screwed once again and Carney is to chickensh*t to admit it!
American is superior and stronger the. Canada. Please go Elbows Up so
Trump can absolutely crush Carney and his cronies. MAGA Movement is amazing
Whew, almost got busted in a lie on that one.At least I have the media to cover my backside when stuff goes a little south and considering the fact that Canadians are absolute suckers after they bought my “Elbows Up” B.S.,they will fall for anything.
Anyways gotta go. Got an off the books meeting with some of my Brookfield Associates ,can’t be late.
Elbows Up, Elbozos!
Alright. J3jcjwnwicosnwnd
The bridge opening was delayed because Carney couldn’t finish the deal he promised by end of July 2025. Blame Carney.
it was closed today (YES ALREADY) due to a tractor trailer accident caused by an untrained immigrant driver being paid wages no North American would agree to….
We are truly being run into the ground by MORONS
NO CONFIDENCE!
Carney is to blame for Canada sluggish economic growth the last 12 months. If he would have got the deal he promised during the election, Canada would be doing much better. Carney has failed Canadians.
Obviously Carney can’t negotiate and his “Elbows Up” campaign pitch was fiction. He keeps capitulating to Trump as Carney is looking after himself and the Liberal party, not Canadians.
Poilievre was a member of the Harper government when it agreed to completely pay for the bridge. Why are the Liberals responsible for their agreement?
Canadians seem to be able to handle the truth. Never responsible, always victims. Why was Canadas economy on life support even before the Trump tariffs you seem to like to blame everything on. The economic vandalism was done by Trudeau and now Carney.
We can thank Harper and co for getting the bridge going in the beginning. There would have been no way Liberals would have started such an ambitious project. They would have killed the project citing “climate change” , the environment, or other bogus reason like extreme gender ideology.
Truth be told. This bridge is mainly for Canadians. Most Americans have no need or desire to go to Canada. A good portion of Americans are boycotting Canada entirely.
Why are Canadian LIBERALS the most submissive, dumbest people to have ever lived?
Why are Canadian MAGAs the most submissive, dumbest people to have ever lived?
Congratulations to the “ Howe – Family”….😀…… Historic – Canadian Bridge…… !!!
Ben. Carney capitulated to Trump. No changes were required except Carney bowed to MAGA and to political pressure
Loving that Trump is putting the boots to Canada. USA calls the shots and dictates term. Canada can accept that, or trade elsewhere.
@ Ben, nicely done calling him out. Was about to ask ol Dane from America the same thing.
Conservative government under Harper and the then governor of Michigan made the deal which forced Canada to pay for the bridge. Carney managed to salvage a new agreement with the unpredictable Trump.
@Thiswas.
It was Carney that capitulated on the original deal. Let’s not blame Harper because Carney is now bowing and kissing the MAGA ring. The bridge should have stayed closed. There is alternate crossings and other options exist. Just Lard Ford and Carney needed to show at least little progress to save face.
Carney is a modern day Neville Chamberlain. Both spineless cowards.
That bridge and the original agreement were lousy Tory economic ideas that once again exposed Canada to being shaken down by a corrupt Murrikan government, at whose feet Tories have grovelled since Mulroney sold Canada out under the original NAFTA deal. Lethbridge Liberace and his cohort of separatists and MAGA supporters have no plan except to allow the US to continue deindustrializing Canada and accept becoming nothing but a supplier of cheap raw materials to them.
To all those who are afraid to use their real name in the comments, your opinion isn’t worth listening to.
@Ben. Quite a lame deflection from a Carney bootlicker.
Quotes:
#1 “In February, Trump threatened to block the opening of the bridge.”
#2 “U.S. Ambassador to Canada Pete Hoekstra said in a Monday statement America welcomes the opening.
“President Trump made the opening possible and has consistently prioritized a safer, more secure, and more prosperous North America.”
Proof of the dominant hypocrisy that is the present American political leadership.
Trump did his job. He got a better deal for the USA. Carney failed at his, as he didn’t improve Canadas interest, in fact capitulated to the USA and missed the MAGA ring. So who is the better negotiator?
@Dane from Oregon. Ironic that you and other US citizens continually care enough to comment. How is that war in Iran going? Guess it’s going to be another loss like Afghanistan or Iraq or Vietnam eh? Sad.
Anonymous:
“The usual asholes of the planet commenting”
Yeah, you.
There are actually five road links between Ontario and Michigan, not to as your story stated incorrectlyY
An an American, I have noticed that Canada has excuses for absolutely everything. Nothing is ever their fault or even somewhat in their control. They blame Trump for everything that isn’t working in their country. Is this a cultural thing? Most Americans don’t care even a little about Canada as it doesn’t factor into their daily lives.
The usual asholes of the planet commenting
I am surprised Carney didn’t try to take credit for building the bridge himself. As we know, he tried to take credit for policy he had nothing to do with. A total fake a poseur.
I find the Canadian Elbows Up comments amusing. They seem to think that Trump is to work for Canadas interest. Trump works for USA’s interests and wants to grow and prosper the American economy. It is up to Carney to grow the Canadian economy. Trump owes Canada exactly nothing and Canada must see this as a business relationship with mutually beneficial interests. For way too long, Canada freeloaded off the USA and benefited from being right next to the largest consumer market in the world, while doing little work to deserve acess. The free ride is over.
And since we are on the subject. If Trump can go ahead and come after us (Canadians) for wildfire smoke and whatever else annoys the orange bully, then we need to go after him (US) for the horrendous damage that was caused when the Nooksack River in the US burst it’s banks and caused thousand of people to lose their homes and businesses. Fair’s fair, eye for an eye. Two can play at that game.
This is not the first time Carney has bent over in a deal then lied about it to the public.
Just before the election he was “elbow’s up” after quietly dropping the reciprocal tariffs on CUSMA protected items that were a violation of the cusma agreement.
Carney was sent here to destroy our economy and he has asked Trump for help.
Most Americans are now boycotting Canada so we don’t need this new bridge at all. Regardless, there is multiple points of entry so this hoopla is manufactured outrage by Canada as they are Anti-USA
So tired of listening about this bridge. If it’s going to open then do it or keep it closed. Either way the Canadian taxpayers are going to get hosed over the deal anyway.
It was a suckers deal Canada got because of Carney bowing to Trump. It is highly unlikely now, Canada will see the full initial investment back of the over $6 billion Carney needs to be held accountable for this grift.
The bridge is finally opening after Carney misled the Canadian public over the agreement he signed. The elbozos crowd are still in denial of the facts in the agreement that confirm that what Carney said wasn’t what was actually in the agreement.
I am boycotting Canada. Unfortunately I don’t care for their Anti-American agenda and Elbows Up ideology
Gregor Robertson, not Greg Robertson is Canada’s housing minister.
Uday, what is spell check changed your name to Utah. I would respectfully proofread and correct it.
What has happened to reporters?
Carney tried to misinform Canadians when he capitulated to Trump regarding the GH Bridge. Canada will never get the over $6B back What happened to “Elbows Up”