Gordie Howe International Bridge opening delayed again as US-Canada tensions simmer

The long-awaited opening of the Gordie Howe International Bridge between Canada and the US was delayed indefinitely on Thursday, with a ribbon-cutting ceremony planned for Friday abruptly canceled.

Canada’s Windsor-Detroit Bridge Authority (WDBA), the Canadian Crown corporation overseeing construction, said in a statement that the United States and Canada had agreed to push back the opening. Chuck Andary of the WDBA said both sides were “taking the necessary time to resolve any outstanding issues,” but did not explain the reasons for the latest delay or set a new opening date.

“Canada and the United States have agreed to delay the opening of the bridge, taking the necessary time to resolve any outstanding issues,” Andary said. He described the bridge as a “vital economic link for Canada and the United States” and said the two countries were taking a “collaborative approach” to determine when it will open.

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said earlier this week that the bridge might not open on time but characterized the delay as “no big drama.” He said everyone was “working hard to make sure the bridge is open as soon as possible” and added: “If it takes a little longer, it’ll take a little longer.”

Windsor Mayor Drew Dilkens told the BBC he was informed the ceremony and opening had been canceled but was not given a reason. He said he believed Trump was responsible. “I think that would be the only logical conclusion, that Donald Trump didn’t want it to open, and therefore it shall not open,” Dilkens said. “The bridge is fully built and ready to open.”

The White House has been contacted for comment by the BBC.

The project has been contentious for more than a decade. Construction connecting the Canadian province of Ontario to the US state of Michigan began in 2018. The bridge faced previous delays due to the Covid-19 pandemic and threats from Trump to shut it down.

In February, Trump demanded that Canada share authority and ownership of the bridge, which was built by the WDBA, a federal Crown corporation wholly owned by the Canadian government but operating at arm’s length.

The Moroun family, the American owners of the nearby Ambassador Bridge — one of the few privately owned border crossings — has lobbied Trump to stop construction, arguing the new bridge would infringe on their exclusive ability to collect tolls. Dilkens acknowledged the family’s business concerns but said the bridge was designed in part for safety, to provide an alternative crossing in case of a catastrophic incident on the Ambassador Bridge, and to handle increased trade.

Dilkens, along with Michigan officials including Democratic Governor Gretchen Whitmer and Senator Elissa Slotkin, said the bridge would bring jobs and economic benefits. The project was negotiated by former Michigan Governor Rick Snyder, a Republican, and is estimated to have cost $6.4 billion CAD (approximately $3.4 billion).

The indefinite delay comes after months of elevated tension between the two countries during Trump’s return to office. Last year, Trump launched a trade war with Canada and other allies by imposing new tariffs, and he has repeatedly suggested making Canada a “51st state.” This week during trade talks, Trump said he was not sure he would renew the US-Mexico-Canada Agreement, the trade pact that has united the three economies for decades.

The trade tensions have spilled into other arenas. Canadian travel to the US dropped by 20% last year, costing the US economy more than $4 billion, according to estimates from the US Travel Association.

Dilkens said he and many other Canadians have been protesting the Trump administration by avoiding travel to the US. He expressed hope that opening the bridge — which will include pedestrian and bike lanes — could provide a small diplomatic boost.

“We want to get back to normal,” Dilkens said. “Having this opportunity to release a little steam out of the valve and allow people just to live their lives in a different way by being able to ride their bike or walk across the bridge I think will help — in some very small way — ease some of the tension that exists locally.”