Gordie Howe bridge ribbon-cutting ceremony expected later this week: sources

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Or sign-in if you have an account.The Gordie Howe International Bridge shown from Windsor on June 4. Photo by Dan Janisse/Windsor StarA ceremonial ribbon-cutting for the long-awaited $6.4-billion Gordie Howe International Bridge linking Windsor and Detroit is planned for later this week, but the crossing will not open to traffic that day, says a source with knowledge of the event.Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada.Exclusive articles from Barbara Shecter, Joe O'Connor, Gabriel Friedman, and others.Daily content from Financial Times, the world's leading global business publication.Unlimited online access to read articles from Financial Post, National Post and 15 news sites across Canada with one account.National Post ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on.Daily puzzles, including the New York Times Crossword.Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada.Exclusive articles from Barbara Shecter, Joe O'Connor, Gabriel Friedman and others.Daily content from Financial Times, the world's leading global business publication.Unlimited online access to read articles from Financial Post, National Post and 15 news sites across Canada with one account.National Post ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on.Daily puzzles, including the New York Times Crossword.Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience.Access articles from across Canada with one account.Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments.Enjoy additional articles per month.Get email updates from your favourite authors.Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience.Access articles from across Canada with one accountShare your thoughts and join the conversation in the commentsEnjoy additional articles per monthGet email updates from your favourite authorsSign In or Create an AccountorThe source did not provide a day for the ribbon-cutting, but two sources not authorized to speak publicly told Detroit-area media outlets on Monday afternoon that such a ceremony for the bridge was scheduled for Friday.Detroit-area media are unclear whether the bridge will be open to the public afterward, but reported that Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer and former governor Rick Snyder are expected to attend the ceremony.Breaking business news, incisive views, must-reads and market signals. 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Please try againWhitmer’s office directed all inquiries to the Windsor Detroit Bridge Authority (WDBA), the consortium overseeing the construction and maintenance of the six-lane, 2.5-kilometre cable-stayed bridge that has been more than two decades in the making.WDBA did not confirm the plans when reached Monday afternoon, but said the bridge is still on track to open before the end of spring, which is June 20.“The project team is progressing well towards a spring opening of the Gordie Howe International Bridge, which will be a vital economic link between the two countries,” said spokesperson Tara Carson. “Additional details will be shared in the coming days.”John Roach, director of media relations for Detroit Mayor Mary Sheffield’s office, said he was unaware of any invitations related to the bridge event.Asked about the status of the bridge following city council on Monday morning, Windsor Mayor Drew Dilkens said he believes the bridge is close to opening and that it would probably be a low-key affair.“But I’m hopeful that if we get to a point in time where we find a pathway forward with a new trade agreement with the United States and Mexico, that it would be the type of event where we’d actually get a ribbon-cutting in the middle, where the president (and) the prime minister meet in the middle, and we celebrate a binational relationship and the trade agreements that we have in place. I hope that still happens once we get to the end of an upgraded CUSMA,” he said.The Michigan Department of Transportation also referred all inquiries to the WDBA.During a U.S. committee hearing last week, Michigan Senator Gary Peters asked the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to confirm whether U.S. Customs and Border Protection was staffed and prepared to facilitate cross-border trade and travel at the bridge.“We have the personnel dedicated, ready to move,” DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin said in response. “We’re prepared, we’re staffed, ready to go. Once that’s done, there’s still negotiations between Canada and the United States. That’s not within DHS; that has to be resolved. But we’re as far as we can go without the sign-off on the bridge and the final agreement between the two countries.”It’s been a turbulent period leading up to the bridge’s anticipated spring opening date.In February, U.S. President Donald Trump publicly threatened to block the bridge from opening unless Canada agreed to revisit parts of the long-standing agreement that governs the project, which was built and paid for by the Canadian government.Questions about how quickly the Canadian government could recoup its multimillion-dollar investment through tolls given lower-than-expected crossing numbers were raised by U.S. Ambassador to Canada Pete Hoekstra, who also claimed there was still no finalized agreement in place to allow the bridge to open.Canada shares joint ownership of the bridge with the State of Michigan. However, Michigan will only start being paid once Canada recovers the full cost.The matter resurfaced again in late May when Windsor’s mayor revealed details of a conversation he had with Hoekstra. According to Dilkens, the U.S. ambassador said Canada would likely find the terms of its proposal unacceptable.Dilkens also took to social media to caution against Canada accepting a poor deal simply to see the long-awaited bridge open, arguing tariffs had diminished the need for additional trade capacity.The Gordie Howe bridge adds a third international crossing to one of North America’s busiest trade corridors.According to figures provided by the Canadian Chamber of Commerce, the Detroit-Windsor crossing handled approximately $130 billion worth of trade in 2025, about $360 million worth of goods each day.A significant amount of that trade flows through Windsor-Essex, home to North America’s largest automotive manufacturing cluster and one of the continent’s largest greenhouse-growing regions, both deeply integrated with neighbouring Michigan. Statistics Canada data shows businesses in the Windsor census metropolitan area traded approximately $31.2 billion worth of goods with the United States in 2023, including $16.2 billion in exports and $14.4 billion in imports.More to come.— With files from Millar Holmes-Hill Join the Conversation This website uses cookies to personalize your content (including ads), and allows us to analyze our traffic. Read more about cookies here. By continuing to use our site, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.