DETROIT — As the Gordie Howe International Bridge nears its fall 2025 opening, the $4.6 billion project is facing an uncertain future due to escalating trade tensions between the U.S. and Canada. The bridge, designed to strengthen vital supply chains between the two countries, was meant to alleviate congestion on the aging Ambassador Bridge and boost trade between the manufacturing powerhouses of Detroit and Windsor, Ontario.
The Detroit River crossing is one of the busiest international borders in North America, with over $760 billion in goods traded between the U.S. and Canada in 2024. However, the imposition of 25% tariffs on Canadian goods, car imports, and auto parts by the U.S. has cast a shadow over the bridge's potential to increase capacity for commercial vehicles and speed up customs processing.
Canada invested heavily in the project, covering the entire construction cost, including the U.S. Customs Plaza, in an effort to mitigate the loss of automotive industry jobs to the U.S. The bridge is expected to cut 20 minutes off crossing time, saving truckers over $1.5 billion over 30 years. However, with trade ties loosening and tariffs in place, it remains to be seen whether the bridge will generate the projected $70.4 million in revenue in its first year.
The automotive industry, which relies heavily on cross-border trade, is particularly vulnerable to the tariffs. Canada exported over $27 billion in cars to the U.S. last year, with many auto parts crossing the border multiple times before being assembled into vehicles. The just-in-time delivery model used by the industry, which relies on efficient supply chains, is likely to be disrupted by the tariffs.
As tensions mount between the U.S. and Canada, some experts warn that the Gordie Howe International Bridge may not deliver on its original promise, at least not as quickly as once hoped. The project, once seen as a celebration of the close ties between the two countries, now threatens to become a symbol of an era that once was and may never be. With the bridge's opening just months away, the future of this critical trade artery remains uncertain.
