Gordie Howe International Bridge opens today, adding high-tech port of entry between Windsor and Detroit

After more than a decade of construction and policy wrangling, the six-lane Gordie Howe International Bridge officially opens to traffic on 27 July, creating a second high-capacity link between Ontario and Michigan. The 2.5-kilometre cable-stayed span contains state-of-the-art border-inspection plazas equipped with advanced screening technology designed jointly by the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) and U.S. Customs and Border Protection. The bridge is expected to handle 40,000 commercial vehicles a day at full capacity, relieving congestion at the 94-year-old Ambassador Bridge and cutting wait times that often stretch beyond two hours. Transport economists estimate the new crossing could boost bilateral trade flows by up to CA$21 billion annually. For corporate mobility, the opening simplifies same-day U.S.-Canada travel for executives, technicians and short-term business visitors. Both governments have agreed on an “express crew bus” programme that will allow pre-screened automotive and agri-food workers to cross in under 15 minutes during shift changes, leveraging facial-biometrics and licence-plate recognition. Toll governance will be overseen by a bi-national board with a 15-year economic development fund earmarked for regional infrastructure. Companies should update travel policies to direct freight and personnel through the new port when time-sensitive deliveries or tight meeting schedules are involved. CBSA warns that enhanced technology means stricter compliance: trucks arriving without accurate electronic manifests may be diverted to secondary inspection, incurring delays and potential Administrative Monetary Penalties (AMPs).