The $6.4-billion Gordie Howe International Bridge, linking Windsor, Ontario, and Detroit, Michigan, is expected to open by the end of the week, according to Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney and Windsor Mayor Drew Dilkens, who have pointed to a possible ribbon-cutting ceremony on Friday and a formal opening the following Monday. The opening comes despite a February threat from U.S. President Donald Trump to block the bridge unless Ottawa granted Washington half ownership — a demand that was not met. As the source report notes, the bridge adds a third international crossing on the busiest trade corridor between Canada and the U.S., alongside the privately owned Ambassador Bridge and the Blue Water Bridge at Sarnia-Port Huron.

$6.4 billion Canadian bet on a new crossing

The Gordie Howe bridge is entirely financed by Canada and jointly owned by the governments of Canada and Michigan. According to the report, the Windsor-Detroit Bridge Authority, a federal Crown corporation, will operate the bridge and recover construction costs through tolls collected on the Canadian side. The project spans the Detroit River and is named after the legendary hockey star Gordie Howe, a nod to shared cultural heritage on both sides of the border.

Trump's February ultimatum and the silence since

In a February statement, Trump threatened to block the bridge's opening, demanding that the U.S. receive half ownership of the structure. That demand was not met, and as the source reports, Trump has not publicly reversed his stance. Behind the scenes, Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer reportedly played a key role in advancing the opening despite White House opposition, according to the report. The episode illustrates the fragile state of Canada-U.S. relations, which are already strained by U.S. tariffs on Canadian steel, aluminum, autos, and lumber, and slow-moving negotiations to renew the USMCA.

The Moroun family's long-running opposition

The Ambassador Bridge, owned by the Moroun family, has lobbied aggressively against the new crossing, arguing it is economically redundant and unlawfully harms their business, as the source details.. The family has a history of legal challenges and political influence in Detroit,and their opposition has persisted for years. The opening of the Gordie Howe bridge is expected to spark a toll price war, directly competing with the Ambassador Bridge and potentially lowering costs for commuters and commercial shippers.

What toll competition means for commuters and truckers

With three international crossings now operating in the region, operators will compete for traffic. The source report anticipates that the Gordie Howe bridge will trigger a toll war, benefiting users. Lower tolls could ease costs for the tens of thousands of trucks and cars that cross daily, a critical factor for supply chains already under pressure from tariffs and trade uncertainty.

A last-minute Trump post could still derail everything

Despite the optimism from Canadian officialls , the source report cautions that a last-minute social media post from President Trump could disrupt the plans. It remains unclear whether Trump will try to block the opening via executive order or legal action, especially since his demand for half ownership was rejected. The open question is whether the U.S. government could impose border restrictions or other measures to effectively prevent the bridge from operating, a scenario that would escalate the trade dispute dramatically.