1 of 2 | The Gordie Howe International Bridge is scheduled to open on Monday. Canada is having a scaled-down opening ceremony on Friday. Photo by Gordie Howe International Bridge
July 24 (UPI) -- The new Gordie Howe Bridge between Windsor, Ontario, Canada, and Detroit is set to open to traffic Monday, and only Canadians will be at the Friday opening ceremony.
As tensions flare between Canada and President Donald Trump, the Canadian side has disinvited all American dignitaries who were scheduled to attend an opening ceremony Friday in the center of the bridge. Now the scaled-down ceremony will be on the Windsor side with only Canadians in attendance.
"In light of trade action threatened by the United States earlier this week, it would be inappropriate to proceed with a celebratory event between the two countries," the office of Canada's infrastructure minister said in a statement. "The Gordie Howe International Bridge remains a vital infrastructure project that reflects years of hard work and will be a major economic driver."
The bridge was named after Canadian hockey great Gordie Howe who played 25 seasons for the Detroit Red Wings.
