The Canadian government has released further information concerning the United States' request to postpone the opening of the Gordie Howe International Bridge. Federal authorities confirmed that the U. S. request, made around June 10, cited "technical aspects" related to the governance and financial framework of the bridge project. This revelation comes after months of scrutiny and follows an earlier threat by former U. S. President Donald Trump in February to block the bridge's opening entirely.
The infrastructure department indicated that the delay requested by the U. S. in the spring did not increase the overall cost of the bridge project, which had seen its budget escalate from $5.7 billion in 2018 to $6.4 billion by 2024. However, specific details regarding change orders that account for the $700 million difference in cost were not provided by the Windsor-Detroit Bridge Authority in response to inquiries.
The Gordie Howe International Bridge, a significant infrastructure project connecting Windsor, Ontario, and Detroit, Michigan, was inaugurated on July 24, 2026, and opened to vehicular traffic on July 27, 2026. The bridge's opening had been scheduled for earlier, but was postponed amidst broader cross-border tensions. The initial threat from the Trump administration to delay the opening also sparked accusations that the move was a favour to owners of the nearby Ambassador Bridge, who were reportedly significant donors to Republican campaigns. Canadian officials, including Prime Minister Mark Carney, had previously refuted claims that the project used only Canadian steel, which had been cited as another point of contention.
