WINDSOR, Canada — After years of delays, political tension an billions of dollars in construction, the Gordie Howe International Bridge is finally steps from the finish line.
As it stands on Friday morning, the international crossing is set open to traffic on Monday, but U.S. officials still have not confirmed that will happen.
See the full ribbon cutting ceremony in the video below
On Friday, officials from across Canada were joined by the Howe family to celebrate the opening, which is set for Monday, as early as 12 p.m.
Canada is set to hold a ribbon cutting for the bridge on Friday morning, a major milestone for the project designed to transform trade between the U.S. and Windsor.
Related: Everything you need to know about crossing the Gordie Howe International Bridge
"After years of planning partnership, and construction, the Gordie Howe International Bridge will soon be opening - providing a new connection for the region, while strengthening one of the world's most important trade corridors. This nation-building project is a testament to what Canada can accomplish when we come together with a shared vision. Our gratitude goes to all the staff, workers, partners, the Howe family, and community members who were involved. The Gordie Howe International Bridge will create new opportunities, strengthen our economy, and bring economic benefits on both sides of border for generations to come," the Honourable Gregor Robertson, the minister of Housing and Infrastructure and minister responsible for Pacific Economic Development Canada, said in a statement.
"The Gordie Howe International Bridge will support increased trade and good-paying jobs on both sides of the border, adding to the $82 billion in cross-border trade that Michigan and Ontario do every year. This bridge is a testament to the incredible legacy of Gordie Howe, and to the millions of Americans and Canadians who work together every day to make both of our countries more secure, safe and prosperous," Ontario Premier Doug Ford added.
The multi-use pedestrian and bicyclist path will open to the public on Aug. 5. You can learn more about the path here.
There is still a lot of political back-and-forth over the bridge's opening. Canada withdrew from a planned joint ceremony with the U.S. after President Trump announced a 50% tariff on most Canadian goods. It's unclear if the U.S. will hold its own ceremony.
Trump posted on Truth Social Friday afternoon during the ceremony. It reads, "Canada disinvited the United States of America to the opening of the Gordie Howe Bridge, which is fine, considering they are paying substantial TARIFFS to the United States, but the original Deal on the Bridge, which was terribly negotiated by a previous Administration, no longer stands. We changed the terms of the Deal so that the United States of America now gets 50% of the Profit. Thank you for your attention to this matter! President DONALD J. TRUMP."
Truck drivers we spoke with overnight say they are desperately wanting this bridge to open because it will cut down on their drive time and the amount of time they have to be away from home. The bridge connects directly to I-75 in the United States and the 401 in Canada.
Canadian truck driver Hayder-Al Bagdadi said he loves being on the road, but he also hates being away from home, and he's ready for the bridge to open.
“I go to Toronto and I come back to Romulus, Michigan. I drop the cars, nine cars and I come back to Windsor," he said.
Another trucker, Samar Khangura, routinely transports auto parts from the Toronto area through Michigan on the way to his final destination in Laredo, Texas. He says he's ready for the bridge to open because it would significantly lower his drive time.
“We used to go from Sarnia from Blue Water Bridge," he said. “Sometime, it’s a big lineup. I didn’t remember the time. We have to wait for like 15 hours at Sarnia to cross the border.
The Scripps News Group reached out to Pete Hoekstra, the U.S. Ambassador to Canada, for clarity. However, he said that "we have to wait for DC concurrence."
We also reached out to the White House, but they were tight-lipped, only saying in part, “Nothing will change the fact that President Trump renegotiated an incredible deal for America on the Gordie Howe Bridge...”
