Gordie Howe bridge opens Monday after decades

Gordie Howe bridge opens Monday after decades

The long-awaited Gordie Howe International Bridge opens to traffic at noon Monday despite U.S.-Canada trade tensions that scrapped plans for a joint ribbon-cutting ceremony.

Why it matters: After decades of planning, construction and political battles, the new Detroit-Windsor crossing provides an alternative to the Ambassador Bridge while adding another major gateway for trade and travel.

Catch up quick: Canadian officials marked the occasion Friday with a "Canadian Celebration" that drew members of the Howe family, government officials and others who helped build the bridge.

  • President Trump posted to social media during the event, saying the U.S. was "disinvited" to the opening.

    • What they're saying: Officials emphasized the cooperative spirit behind the bridge's construction and the benefits it will provide to everyday travelers and freight haulers alike.

  • "From a regular person's perspective, certainly it's going to make your travel faster, smoother, easier," Canada Border Services Agency district director Sydney Kale said Friday.

    • Canada Border Services Agency district director Sydney Kale gives a media tour of new bridge facilities.

    Before you go: Here are some tips to keep in mind before crossing the Gordie Howe.

  • Travelers will need the same documents required at any other U.S.-Canada crossing, such as a passport, NEXUS card or enhanced driver's license.
  • A one-way passenger toll costs $5.75, or $4.35 for drivers enrolled in the bridge's Breakaway toll program. That's lower than the standard passenger toll at both the Ambassador Bridge and the Detroit-Windsor Tunnel, though the Ambassador also offers discounted prepaid rates.
  • Pedestrians and cyclists will have to wait a little longer. The bridge's multi-use path opens Aug. 5.

    • Zoom in: The bridge was built to keep traffic moving.

  • Its 24 Canadian inspection lanes can be reassigned, based on demand throughout the day for passenger vehicles, commercial trucks, NEXUS travelers and FAST travelers.
  • The direct connection between Highway 401 and I-75 was designed to reduce time spent navigating local roads, particularly for truck traffic.

    • By the numbers: It took about 25 years for the project to move from early planning to opening.

  • $6.4 billion CAD: Cost to build the Gordie Howe International Bridge and related infrastructure.
  • Its 720-foot towers are among the region's tallest structures.

    • The bridge in Canada on Friday.

    đŸ’­ Joe's thought bubble: One thing surprised me while standing on the bridge deck Friday: the view. Unlike the Ambassador Bridge, which frames Detroit's skyline, the Gordie Howe is surrounded by smokestacks, freight infrastructure and open industrial land. I could barely see Detroit from where I was standing.

    What's next: Drivers, truckers and other travelers are expected to begin using the bridge at noon Monday.