Gordie Howe International Bridge

Background The passage across the Detroit River between the United States and Canada has been an important traffic route since the American Civil War, with ferries transporting goods and people across the river. A railway tunnel (Michigan Central Railway Tunnel) was opened in July 1910, a suspension bridge for road traffic (Ambassador Bridge) opened in November 1929, and a road tunnel (Detroit–Windsor Tunnel) opened in 1930. The Ambassador Bridge is the busiest crossing on the Canada–United States border, with nearly 25% of U.S.–Canada border crossings by trucks using the bridge.), private ownership by billionaire Manuel Moroun and poor maintenance record. Both the bridge and the road tunnel lack direct highway connections on the Canadian side, with city streets and traffic lights between them and Ontario Highway 401. Detroit River International Crossing In the early 2000s, work was begun to investigate the need for a future crossing of the Detroit River by a bi-national partnership of the U.S. Federal Highway Administration, Transport Canada, Ontario Ministry of Transportation and the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT). During development, the project was known as the Detroit River International Crossing (DRIC) and the New International Trade Crossing. The various environmental approvals for the project were approved in both the United States and Canada in 2009. In 2009, the Ohio State Senate passed a non-binding resolution expressing support for the crossing, and urged the Michigan government to pass it, due to Canada being Ohio's largest foreign trade partner, with billion per year in goods traded between Ohio and Canada. In 2011, the bridge was tentatively scheduled for completion in 2016, according to the Michigan Department of Transportation. Michigan legislation In 2010, the Michigan Senate had not approved any authorizing legislation related to the bridge. The Senate Majority Leader Mike Bishop had stated that the Senate would not vote until revenue forecasts were released, reports that were being withheld by the director of the Michigan Department of Transportation. The Michigan House of Representatives had already passed the measure while the bill was called "doomed" in the Senate. Michigan Governor Rick Snyder supported construction of the new crossing in his first State of the State address on January 19, 2011. His plan would leverage Canadian money to receive a 160 percent match—totaling $2.2 billion—on funding from the Federal Highway Administration in a deal reached the week previous to the speech. In August 2011, Michigan State Senator Mike Kowall, when asked by the Windsor Star if enabling legislation for the bridge would currently pass, replied "absolutely not". In October 2011, the Michigan Senate "rejected a bill [that] would have allowed the state to accept $550 million from the Canadian government to fund the country's share" of the bridge. One commentator, Bill Mann, noted the rejection, saying "Canada calls the new bridge its biggest infrastructure priority and has even offered to pay for the span. But pesky U.S. special-interest politics intrude once again", as he reviewed a number of "U.S. government actions (and inactions) that show little concern about Canadian concerns". Mann drew from a ''Maclean's'' article sub-titled "We used to be friends" about U.S.–Canada relations after the Keystone Pipeline, the bridge, and other "insulting" decisions. In June 2012, Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper and Michigan Governor Rick Snyder announced an agreement allowing the project to proceed. The Canadian federal government would fund bridge construction, land acquisition in Michigan and the construction of Interstate 75 on-ramps. The Canadian contribution will be repaid from bridge tolls collected on the Canadian side, and no tolls will be charged on the U.S. side. The crossing agreement also included community benefits for residents on both sides of the Detroit River, including improvements to local neighbourhoods affected by bridge construction. Although paid for by Canada, the bridge would be owned equally by Canada and the state of Michigan. Approvals and land acquisition On April 12, 2013, the Obama administration granted Michigan the permit required to build the bridge, allowing construction to go forward once details were finalized. In May 2014, the United States Coast Guard issued a bridge permit, the final federal approval required. The Canadian government allocated  million to begin land acquisition on the Detroit side on May 22, 2013. In January 2015, Parsons Corporation was named the general engineering consultant for the bridge. On February 18, 2015, Minister of Transport Lisa Raitt announced Canada would fund the construction of a customs plaza on the U.S. side of the bridge in Detroit's Delray neighborhood. The plaza would have a budget of around  million, and be recouped through tolls. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security would provide a first-year investment of  million, and an "ongoing annual requirement" of  million, to cover the plaza's operational and staffing costs. On May 14, 2015, during an event attended by Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper, it was officially announced that the bridge would be known as the Gordie Howe International Bridge after Canadian ice hockey player Gordie Howe, whose career included twenty-five years with the Detroit Red Wings. In July 2016, it was announced many properties that would be required to build the bridge were still in the hands of private landowners. Some properties on the American side of the river were owned by Manuel Moroun, owner of the Ambassador Bridge. An estimated 30 of the 900 properties needed were considered to be problems if the owners resist selling. In July 2016, the CBC reported Dwight Duncan, the former finance minister for Ontario had advised the Government of Canada to consider buying the Ambassador Bridge from Moroun. In a joint statement released after a meeting between newly elected U.S. president Donald Trump and Canadian prime minister Justin Trudeau on February 13, 2017, the two governments reiterated the support of the "expeditious completion" of the project. It was listed as a priority infrastructure project by the Donald Trump administration. In June 2017, the City of Detroit sold 36 city-owned parcels of land, underground assets and five miles of city-owned streets in the Delray neighborhood, which is the site of the U.S. Customs facility. A  million neighborhood improvement fund for the neighborhood was set up. Residents of the area can stay and have their home renovated or move to a renovated home in a different neighborhood. In May 2018, the Michigan Court of Appeals ruled against Moroun's attempt to stop expropriations on the Michigan side of the river, allowing construction of the U.S. plaza to begin. Construction On July 5, 2018, WDBA was announced the consortium "Bridging North America" had been awarded the bridge contract, using a design, build, finance, operate and maintain structure. The consortium consisted of AECOM for design; Dragados Canada, Fluor Corporation, and Aecon for construction; and ACS Infrastructure, Fluor, and Aecon for operations and maintenance. Following construction, Bridging North America will receive monthly payments for operating and maintaining the bridge over a 30 year period. Construction began on July 17, 2018, with groundbreaking by Minister of Infrastructure Amarjeet Sohi and Michigan Governor Rick Snyder. On September 28, 2018, the WDBA announced the project would cost CA$3.8 billion to construct, In 2019, preparatory work for major construction continued, with cleaning of contaminated land. An effort by the Michigan Republican Party to prevent MDOT spending money on the bridge (even if MDOT would later be reimbursed by Canada) was reversed, allowing the project to continue.  million of community benefits for local residents on both sides of the Detroit River was also announced. In 2020, the design of new pedestrian bridges over Interstate 75 were unveiled, and work began on the foundations for the bridge towers. Construction was impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, with changes to working practices, travel restrictions and material shortages. In January 2021, foundation work for the bridge towers had been completed, and construction of the bridge towers was underway. In March 2021, work began to construct the buildings in the Canadian port of entry. By November 2022, over of the bridge towers had been completed. In May 2023, installation of the cables used to hold up the future bridge deck began. The US bridge tower reached its final height of in August 2023, with the Canadian bridge tower completed in December 2023. In October 2023, the WDBA explained that major construction would likely be completed by the end of 2024, with elements such as signs and lighting taking another six months to install. WDBA also noted that around 2,300 people were working on the site at the peak of construction. CA$700 million of additional costs would be met by the Canadian government. It was also confirmed that the bridge deck would be completed in 2024. The occasion was marked with a handshake between a Canadian and an American steelworker. and planning to test the lighting on the bridge. , major construction of the bridge has been completed, with officials stating in October 2025 that it will not be open to traffic until "early 2026". Drew Dilkens, the mayor of Windsor, described the timing of the anticipated opening as "dreadful", given the ongoing strains in bilateral relations between the United States and Canada. Trump administration interference On February 8, 2026, U.S. president Donald Trump threatened to block the opening of the bridge, citing Canada's recent trade developments with China and the alleged one-sided nature of the contract (wherein Canada gains all revenue from bridge tolls to pay back construction costs). Trump's announcement was criticized by politicians, business leaders and industry groups. The following day, Prime Minister Mark Carney discussed the bridge with Trump, detailing the joint ownership of the bridge, that construction used Canadian and U.S. steel and workers, and that Canada paid for construction. The New York Times subsequently reported that billionaire Matthew Moroun (who owns the Ambassador Bridge) had lobbied the Trump administration prior to Trump's announcement. The ranking member of the United States House Oversight Committee, Robert Garcia, opened an investigation into Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick’s earlier meeting with Moroun, sending Lutnick a letter requesting communications related to that meeting. Filings released February 20 showed that Moroun donated million to MAGA Inc., a Trump-affiliated super PAC, less than a month before Trump's announcement. Announcement of toll rates In March 2026, bridge operators announced fees of less than half those charged for the Ambassador Bridge and cheaper than those for the Detroit-Windsor Tunnel. One-way toll rates were announced as US$5.75 or CA$8 for passenger vehicles, and commercial vehicles as US$8.75 or CA$12 per axle. When towing a small trailer, an additional toll of US$5.75 or CA$8 is applied per trailer. A 25% discount will be applied for electronic pass holders reducing the cost to US$4.35 or CA$6 for passenger vehicles, and reducing commercial vehicle tolls to US$6.90 or CA$9 per axle. Use of the bicycle and walking path will be free. and the publicly-owned Detroit-Windsor Tunnel (US$9 or CA$8.25 for passenger vehicles, and commercial vehicles ranging from US$10 to US$44 or CA$11.75 to CA$62.35). In April, the company responsible for the Ambassador Bridge announced that it will be reducing pre-paid tolls for cars and motorcycles by almost half (US$5.50 US or CA$7.50), with cash rates will remain unchanged for passenger vehicles. ==Design==

The cable-stayed bridge design is by chief bridge architect of AECOM, Erik Behrens. Each of its two A-shaped bridge towers, standing tall, was built on opposite banks of the Detroit River. These towers were designed to resemble hockey sticks when swung for a slapshot. On the Canadian side, the port of entry encompasses with border inspection facilities, toll collection and bridge maintenance facilities directly connecting to Ontario Highway 401. Transport Canada retained the engineering firms, Morrison Hershfield, Davis Langdon, and Delcan to develop cost estimates for right of way and utility relocation; design and construction; and operation and maintenance on the Canadian side of the crossing. Artwork The project will include several pieces of public art. During construction, artworks by local artists were placed on the jump forms within which the bridge towers were built. Aazhoge, a sculpture of tree bark by Anishinaabe artist Michael Belmore recognizes and celebrates First Nations, visible as traffic enters and leaves the Canadian Port of Entry. Other artworks are being developed, with Canadian artist Jordan Sook commissioned to create an artwork to commemorate the Underground Railroad. Sook was chosen from a selection of Canadian artists from the Black, African and Caribbean diaspora. Canadian artist Douglas Coupland has been commissioned to provide architectural lighting for the bridge. == Connections ==

Highway 401 (Rt. Hon. Herb Gray Parkway) in Windsor to the bridge opened in 2015, as the Rt. Hon. Herb Gray Parkway. In Canada, the bridge constitutes the new western terminus of Ontario Highway 401. Until 2015, Highway 401 ended on the outskirts of Windsor at Highway 3 (Talbot Road). The bridge will connect to an extension of Highway 401, locally named the Rt. Hon. Herb Gray Parkway, on its east side. The parkway also features of green space and over of recreational trails, with seven bridges and two tunnels separating the trails from roads. Full construction of the parkway began in 2011, and was completed in November 2015 at a cost of . Construction of the Rt. Hon. Herb Gray Parkway that links to the bridge on the Canadian side was hampered by concerns it could affect Ontario's last known habitat of Butler's garter snakes. During the construction process, biologists relocated the snakes (including eastern fox snakes, and the garters—of which there were a larger number than originally thought), with their new habitats protected by a specially designed above and below-ground fencing system along affected portions of the E. C. Row Expressway. Interstate 75 In the United States, the existing routing of Interstate 75 remains unchanged (in contrast to the Canadian side where the bridge serves as the new terminus of an extended Highway 401). However, a connecting road was constructed from the bridge to a semi-directional T interchange with access ramps to both directions of Interstate 75. Along with this new interchange, of Interstate 75 was rebuilt and widened, local roads were improved and new pedestrian bridges added. Noise walls were also built to mitigate impacts to the Southwest Detroit neighbourhood. Walking and biking In March 2017, WDBA announced that the design requirements for the Gordie Howe International Bridge Project would include a dedicated multi-use path that will accommodate pedestrians and cyclists. This multi-use path will be the first non special event, legal pedestrian crossing of the Detroit River, connecting to local streets and trails on both of its sides. The bridge will be part of the Trans Canada Trail, linking trail networks on both sides of the river including the Canadian Great Lakes Waterfront Trail, as well as the American Iron Belle Trail and the Great Lakes Way. There will be customs facilities in both countries that are convenient and dedicated to the processing of travelers by foot or bicycle to prevent interacting with border vehicle traffic. Crossing the bridge on foot or cycle will be free of tolls. ==Community benefits==

Alongside the construction of the bridge,  million was allocated to various community benefit projects in both the United States and Canada. Projects included support for local community groups, improvements to local parks and trails, and improvements to local streets. Grants were also awarded for home improvements in Delray, and to Walpole Island First Nation. Contractors were also encouraged to employ residents of Detroit and Windsor, and the wider Metro Detroit and Essex County areas, alongside work to provide apprenticeships and training to workers. ==Opposition==

(opened in 1929), owned by the Moroun family The most vocal opposition to the new crossing came from American billionaire Manuel "Matty" Moroun (1927–2020), owner of the nearby Ambassador Bridge. He sued the governments of Canada and Michigan to stop its construction, and released a proposal to build a second span of the Ambassador Bridge (which he would have owned) instead. Critics suggest that Moroun's opposition was fueled by the prospect of lost profits from duty-free gasoline sales, which are exempt from about 60 cents per gallon in taxes even though the pump price to consumers is only a few cents lower. In early June 2011, the conservative advocacy group Americans for Prosperity posted bogus eviction notices on homes in Detroit's Delray district. With the words "Eviction Notice" in large type, the notices told homeowners their properties could be taken by the Michigan Department of Transportation to make way for the proposed new bridge. The group's state director said the fake notices were intended to get residents to contact state lawmakers, to ask them to vote against the bridge project. Americans for Prosperity charged that the project would be a waste of taxpayer money if toll revenues did not cover debt service. In July 2011, the Canadian Transit Company, the Canadian side of Moroun ownership of the Ambassador Bridge, began running advertisements against the DRIC proposal, calling it a "$2.2 billion road to nowhere". The phone number listed for Canadian Transit Company forwarded to a phone number in Michigan, MPP Dwight Duncan advised that he was investigating whether or not the ads violated Ontario's election laws, which disallow public spending by foreign lobbyists. NPR affiliate network Michigan Public aired a story on November 2, four days before the vote, which indicated the amendment's "seemingly neutral language masks a very specific—and bitter—political battle". The ballot proposal was defeated by a 60 percent to 40 percent margin, paving the way for the project to proceed. In the 2010s, Moroun undertook several lawsuits alleging that the 2013 crossing agreement was illegal (and should not have been approved by the U.S. State Department), as well as alleging that they had exclusive rights to a span connecting Detroit to Windsor. In 2015, the Supreme Court of the United States declined to hear a challenge by Moroun regarding the choice of location for the bridge. In June 2016, the last of these lawsuits by Moroun was dismissed, allowing the project to continue. Instead, in December 2019, Trump signed the first U.S. funding, allocating up to $15 million, for customs and border protection for the bridge into law. In May 2018, the Michigan Court of Appeals ruled against Moroun's attempt to stop expropriations on the Michigan side of the river, allowing construction of the bridge to begin. In July 2020, Matty Moroun died aged 93, with his family maintaining their ownership of the Ambassador Bridge. In 2022, the Detroit Free Press reported that Moroun's family were preparing a case for damages, following the acquisition of properties by eminent domain for bridge construction. ==Naming==

with the Detroit Red Wings in the 1960s Snyder stated that he had "not [been] crazy" about naming the bridge the Detroit River International Crossing, noting that "DRIC" was intended only to be the name of the commission sponsoring the bridge, and not the bridge itself. Concerns were also acknowledged that the abbreviated name was too close to that of the Detroit International Bridge Company (DIBC)—that would be too sensitive given its objections to the project. It was under the NITC name that the project was approved by the U.S. State Department on April 12, 2013. On May 14, 2015, during an event attended by then-Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper, it was officially announced that the bridge would be known as the Gordie Howe International Bridge. Howe, 87 and in ailing health, did not attend the ceremony. Later, when asked by his son what he thought about the naming, Howe remarked "That sounds pretty good to me." Howe died one year later on June 10, 2016, two years before construction began. ==See also==