Michigan’s new Gordie Howe International Bridge on Thursday faced further delays in opening, amid Washington’s feud with Canada over the massive infrastructure project.
The 1.5-mile-long crossing will connect Detroit to Ontario, with its half-mile span over the Detroit River making it the longest of any cable-stayed bridge in North America. President Donald Trump has railed against Canada over the bridge, even threatening to block its opening, due to concerns that the country has too much control over the critical crossing point and is taking advantage of the United States.
Though Gordie Howe was finally slated to open on Friday with a ribbon-cutting ceremony, officials released a nebulous statement this week revealing that the schedule has been pushed back indefinitely to allow Canada and the U.S. “to resolve any outstanding issues.”
“As we work towards an opening date, we are taking a collaborative approach, reflecting our shared ambition for this trade corridor,” Chuck Andary of the Windsor-Detroit Bridge Authority said. “Canada and the United States have agreed to delay the opening of the bridge, taking the necessary time to resolve any outstanding issues. We appreciate the efforts of workers on both sides of the border to get the bridge to its current state of readiness.”
The bridge is named after the late Canadian hockey legend who spent 25 seasons with the Detroit Red Wings. It is set to join the privately owned Ambassador Bridge as the second span connecting Detroit and Windsor, Ontario. The rival Ambassador Bridge was long the busiest border crossing, carrying 25% of all trade between the countries. Ambassador’s owners have allegedly lobbied the Trump administration to keep the new Gordie Howie project from opening.
Gordie Howe has been under construction since 2018, with COVID-19 stalling construction and Trump’s threats raising fears it could be blocked from opening altogether.
CARNEY SAYS CANADA-MICHIGAN BRIDGE THAT TRUMP THREATENED TO BLOCK WILL OPEN
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney expressed optimism on Tuesday that the bridge would be open by the end of the week. But he said Wednesday that Gordie Howe’s opening could be postponed, while denying there was any “big drama.”
“Look, everyone’s working hard to make sure the bridge is open as soon as possible,” Carney said. “There is no big drama. If it takes a little longer it will take a little bit longer, but this will benefit Canadians, Americans, business, tourists, residents for decades and decades to come.”
