After weeks of speculation over the possible opening date of the Gordie Howe International Bridge following a canceled ribbon cutting ceremony last month, officials have announced it will open by the end of July.
In a news release published late Friday, the Canadian government confirmed the bridge will open on July 27, with support from the U.S. government.
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“After years of planning, partnership, and construction, the Gordie Howe International Bridge will soon be opening – providing a new connection for the region, while strengthening one of the world’s most important trade corridors," said Gregor Robertson, Canada’s minister of housing and infrastructure and minister responsible for Pacific Economic Development Canada in a statement. “This nation-building project is a testament to what Canada can accomplish when we come together with a shared vision.”
The six-lane, cable-stayed bridge spans the Detroit River between Detroit and Windsor and is jointly owned by Michigan and Canada. The project first broke ground in 2018, though the agreement to build it was signed in 2012.
Under that deal, Canada agreed to cover construction costs, to be repaid through toll revenue.
The Canadian government says both the U.S. and Canada have agreed to “a series of cooperative measures focused on toll governance and transparency” to ensure that benefits are felt on both sides of the border.
Canadian officials say the ports of entry on both sides of the border are equipped with “advanced screening and border management technologies” that make it one of the most advanced and secure land border crossings in North America.
The Windsor-Detroit Bridge Authority says it will work collaboratively with the U.S. government on toll-rate adjustments.
In a statement about the bridge’s opening," Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer called the project a “testament to the enduring partnership between Michigan and Canada and what we can get done when we think big and bet on our shared future together.
“Thousands of Michigan workers built this critical bridge, which will speed up auto production, lower costs, ease traffic, strengthen agriculture, and give people on both sides of the border better-paying jobs and brighter futures,” she said. “I’m proud to have fought for its opening and congratulate my partners who have worked on this issue alongside me for years.”