New Hockey-themed Bridge Connects U.S. and Canada Opens Monday
WHO:
Fast Company - Doug Ford is the Premier of Ontario, who participated in the ribbon-cutting ceremony for the bridge.
Fast Company - Gregor Robertson is Canada’s housing and infrastructure minister, who also participated in the ribbon-cutting ceremony.
Fast Company - Mark Wiseman is Canada’s ambassador to the U.S., who participated in the ribbon-cutting ceremony.
Fast Company - Grant Hilbers is the chief capital officer of the Windsor-Detroit Bridge Authority.
Fast Company - The bridge is named after Gordie Howe, a Canadian hockey star known as “Mr. Hockey.”
AP News - President Donald Trump announced tariffs on Canadian goods.
AP News - Mark Carney is the Prime Minister of Canada.
AP News - Matthew Moroun is the leader of the Moroun family, owners of the Ambassador Bridge.
Fast Company - Howard Lutnick is the U.S. commerce secretary.
Fast Company - Doug Ford is the Premier of Ontario.
WHAT:
Fast Company - A new agreement signed in mid-July states that half of the bridge's net revenue for the first 15 years will be placed in an economic development fund controlled by the U.S.
AP News - The bridge is now open to traffic, providing a critical route for trade, jobs, and tourism between Canada and the U.S.
AP News - Pedestrians and bicyclists carrying proper identification will be able to cross the bridge for free in a few weeks.
Fast Company - The Gordie Howe International Bridge is now the longest cable-stayed bridge span in the U.S., stretching nearly 2,800 feet (853 meters).
Fast Company - The bridge features a nearly 12-foot-wide space for a multiuse path for pedestrians and cyclists, which is one of only a few international bridges between the U.S. and Canada to have such a pathway.
Fast Company - The Gordie Howe International Bridge is now open between Detroit and Windsor, Ontario.
AP News - The bridge is a six-lane span that will serve as a critical route for trade, jobs, and tourism.
Fast Company - The bridge cost approximately $4.7 billion to build.
AP News - The bridge is 1.5 miles (2.4 kilometers) long and rises 151 feet (46 meters) above the river at its highest point.
Fast Company - The bridge features a nearly 12-foot-wide multiuse path for pedestrians and cyclists.
AP News - More than 70% of Canada’s exports go to the U.S.
WHERE:
Fast Company - The bridge connects Detroit, Michigan, and Windsor, Ontario.
AP News - The bridge is located over the Detroit River.
WHEN:
Fast Company - Construction on the bridge began in 2018.
Fast Company - The bridge's construction was completed in late 2025.
Fast Company - A grand opening date for the bridge was set for July 27.
AP News - A ribbon-cutting ceremony was held on July 24, 2026.
WHY:
Fast Company - The bridge's opening was reframed by Canada as a "Canadian celebration" after President Trump announced 50% tariffs on Canadian goods.
Fast Company - The design of the bridge's towers avoids major disruptions to the fish habitat in the Detroit River and allows uninterrupted marine traffic on one of the busiest commercial waterways in the world.
Fast Company - The bridge was designed as a symbol of collaboration and shared interests between the U.S. and Canada.
Fast Company - The bridge aims to alleviate congestion on the Ambassador Bridge, which has been the only route for large commercial trucks for nearly a century.
HOW:
Fast Company - The bridge was designed by AECOM, a Dallas-based infrastructure consulting firm.
Fast Company - The bridge is composed of 216 long cables and features towers that rise 722 feet.
Fast Company - The bridge is cable-stayed, with its road surface hanging from two towers.
Fast Company - The design includes 216 long cables and towers that rise 722 feet.
AP News - Canada fully funded the bridge's construction, estimated at $6.4 billion.
(UPDATED July 27, 2026 22:22 UTC)
A new bridge connecting Canada and the U.S. is now open to traffic, marking a significant development for trade, jobs, and tourism between the two countries. Premier Doug Ford, Canada’s housing and infrastructure minister Gregor Robertson, and Canada’s ambassador to the U.S. Mark Wiseman all participated in the ribbon-cutting ceremony, celebrating what Canada has framed as a "Canadian celebration" following President Trump's announcement of 50% tariffs on Canadian goods. In a few weeks, pedestrians and bicyclists with proper identification will be able to cross the bridge for free, while an agreement signed in mid-July ensures that half of the bridge's net revenue for the first 15 years will go into an economic development fund controlled by the U.S.
--
(UPDATED July 27, 2026 19:26 UTC)
The Gordie Howe International Bridge has officially become the longest cable-stayed bridge span in the U.S., stretching nearly 2,800 feet. This impressive structure, designed by Grant Hilbers, the chief capital officer of the Windsor-Detroit Bridge Authority, includes a nearly 12-foot-wide multiuse path for pedestrians and cyclists, making it one of the few international bridges between the U.S. and Canada to offer such a feature. Additionally, the bridge's design minimizes disruptions to the fish habitat in the Detroit River and ensures uninterrupted marine traffic on this vital commercial waterway.
--
(UPDATED July 27, 2026 12:03 UTC)
The Gordie Howe International Bridge, named after the legendary Canadian hockey star, is now officially open, connecting Detroit, Michigan, and Windsor, Ontario. This impressive six-lane span, which cost approximately $4.7 billion to build, features a nearly 12-foot-wide multiuse path for pedestrians and cyclists, and is designed to alleviate congestion on the Ambassador Bridge, the only route for large commercial trucks for nearly a century. The bridge, rising 151 feet above the Detroit River, symbolizes collaboration between the U.S. and Canada, with over 70% of Canada's exports heading to the U.S.