Toll agreement unlocks July 27 opening for Gordie Howe Bridge

Toll revenue to support 15-year economic development fund

Canada and the state of Michigan announced Friday that the Gordie Howe International Bridge will open July 27, ending a 14-year construction process for the $4.4 billion span across the Detroit River.

The bridge, which will feature six lanes of traffic and new ports of entry on both sides, links Detroit and Windsor, Ontario — one of the busiest transportation corridors in North America, according to officials from both sides of the border.

After President Donald Trump earlier this year threatened to prevent the bridge from opening over disagreements on trade agreements, tariffs and Canada’s trade ties with China, the two sides reached an agreement, according to the announcement. MSI previously reported that Trump had demanded ownership and compensation concessions. The agreement establishes a 15-year economic development fund tied to profits from crossing tolls.

Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer said in a statement that the bridge has “always been a great deal for our state.” Thousands of Michigan workers built the bridge, she said, and it “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.”

“This bridge is a testament to the enduring partnership between Michigan and Canada,” Whitmer said.

Canadian Minister for Housing and Infrastructure Gregor Robinson said the bridge is “strengthening one of the world’s most important trade corridors.”

“This nation-building project is a testament to what Canada can accomplish when we come together with a shared vision,” Robinson said. “The Gordie Howe International Bridge will create new opportunities, strengthen our economy and bring economic benefits on both sides of the border for generations.”

The bridge project originated under former Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder, a Republican, who agreed to the crossing to alleviate congestion, accommodate future travel and create new transportation capabilities between U.S. and Canadian manufacturing regions. Construction started in 2012.