Travellers anticipating the debut of the Gordie Howe International Bridge will face a prolonged wait before being able to utilize the border passage. The completion of construction is now forecasted for this year, with an expected launch in early 2026, according to Heather Grondin, the Chief Relations Officer for the Windsor Detroit Bridge Authority (WDBA), the entity overseeing the endeavor.
Originally slated for a 2024 year-end opening, the bridge, stretching about 2.5 kilometers across the Detroit River and linking the I-75 with Highway 401, saw its inauguration postponed to fall 2025. Grondin emphasized the current focus on finishing construction and advancing testing and commissioning efforts for the entire project as autumn progresses.
Concerns and delays surrounding the international crossing’s opening have sparked criticism from politicians in the Windsor region. Windsor West Conservative MP Harb Gill characterized the bridge as a “vital economic lifeline for Windsor and Canada,” underlining the local community’s need for consistent updates.
Commencing in 2018, construction of the six-lane crossing has been entirely funded by the Canadian government. Initially estimated at $5.7 billion, the project’s cost escalated to $6.4 billion as of last January.
Upon completion, the new bridge will introduce a third border crossing between Detroit and Windsor, complementing the Ambassador Bridge and the Detroit-Windsor Tunnel, both aging close to a century. The upcoming crossing is set to feature dynamic overhead signage for traffic management, enhanced inspection lanes, expedited truck processing, and tolling transponder technology capable of facilitating 400 vehicles per hour through each booth.
To prepare for the bridge’s opening, the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) disclosed the addition of 250 officers to its workforce, with new trainees assigned to the project. Handover procedures for the Canadian port of entries commenced earlier this year, as reported by the agency.
Grondin disclosed ongoing activities involving technology testing, traffic connectivity assessment at the Canadian Port of Entry, and fire suppression system trials. While the construction progress stands at 98%, with paving, landscaping, and the construction of five pedestrian bridges on the U.S. side underway, a specific opening date remains undisclosed.