New Bridge at North America’s Busiest Border Crossing Faces Unexpected Delays
Every year, a significant volume of trucks, laden with car parts, machinery, and various other goods, traverse a critical point along the U.S.-Canada border. This strategic location, the busiest land crossing in North America, connects Detroit and Windsor, Ontario.
NPR’s Don Gonyea recently visited this key crossing to evaluate the newly completed yet unopened Gordie Howe International Bridge. Named after the celebrated Canadian-born hockey player for the Detroit Red Wings, the bridge’s construction commenced in 2018, with an initial opening slated for early this year. However, unforeseen developments have postponed its debut.
The delay stemmed from former President Trump’s social media proclamation, demanding shared ownership between the United States and Canada as a condition for the bridge’s operation. This intervention stalled progress, with the scheduled grand opening in June ultimately canceled at the last minute.
Stephen Laskowski, president of the Canadian Trucking Alliance and the Ontario Trucking Association, was en route to the ceremony when he received the abrupt cancellation notice. “I was heading out. My wife said, ‘Your phone’s ringing’ … it said, don’t bother going,” Laskowski recounted to NPR.
The bridge, a joint venture between Canada and Michigan, was financed by Canada with an agreement to share toll revenues with the state post-recovery of construction costs. However, the resolution to this impasse remains elusive, as some Canadian politicians speculate external influences, citing the Moroun family’s vested interest in the competing Ambassador Bridge. The Morouns, who have contributed significantly to Republican campaigns, including a $1 million donation to a Trump-aligned super PAC, have been linked to the controversy surrounding the bridge’s opening.
Gonyea’s discussions with WDET reporter Alex McLenon and local residents reveal the broader impact of the bridge’s continued closure on the continent’s logistical landscape.
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A view of the Canadian side of the Detroit River, and the Gordie Howe Bridge, as viewed from the United States.
Henry Larson/NPR
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