New Canada-US Gordie Howe Bridge set to open even after Trump objections

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney has confirmed that the Gordie Howe International Bridge connecting Windsor, Ontario, and Detroit, Michigan, will officially open by the end of the week.

The announcement comes months after US President Donald Trump threatened to block the bridge’s opening unless Canada made concessions to the United States.

Speaking to reporters on Parliament Hill in Ottawa, Carney praised the project as a major symbol of cooperation between the two countries.

“It’s positive news. Obviously, the bridge will be open at the end of the week,” Carney said, describing it as a “symbol but also a fact of cooperation between” Canada and the United States.

“It’s great for Canadians going across the border, Americans coming across the border, and for commerce,” he added.

Trump had criticised the bridge project earlier this year in a social media post, claiming Canada was unfairly benefiting from the crossing.

“I will not allow this bridge to open until the United States is fully compensated for everything we have given them,” Trump wrote in February.

The Gordie Howe International Bridge is jointly backed by the governments of Canada and Michigan. Construction began in 2018 and the project is estimated to have cost around $6.4 billion.

Named after legendary Canadian hockey player Gordie Howe, the six-lane bridge is expected to reduce traffic congestion and strengthen trade links between Canada and the US.