After months of controversy, the new Gordie Howe International Bridge between the U.S. and Canada is officially opening on July 27.
The Gordie Howe Bridge is now open to motorists after controversy erupted over the financing of the project.
In a social media post earlier this year, U.S. President Donald Trump demanded compensation from Canada before he would allow the bridge to open.
Trump falsely claimed that the $6.4-billion U.S. bridge that connects Windsor, Ontario and Detroit, Michigan was built with no American content.
Canada agreed to make some adjustments concerning the sharing of revenues from tolls issued for crossing the bridge, which is expected to speed commercial trucks between the countries.
The bridge over the Detroit River is named for the Canadian hockey icon who spent the majority of his career playing for the Detroit Red Wings. It is expected to serve as a critical trade route.
More than 70% of Canada’s exports continue to be sent to the U.S.
For nearly a century, the adjacent Ambassador Bridge has been the only route for commercial trucks moving between the U.S. and Canada via Windsor and Detroit.
Businesses say the new six-lane bridge will be faster and less expensive for commercial trucks looking to cross the U.S.-Canada border.
Construction of the bridge began in 2018 but took years, partly due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
