Celebrating a new era of cross-border transportation, representatives from the Government of Canada, Government of Ontario, Windsor-Detroit Bridge Authority, Bridging North America, and members of the Howe Family joined together on July 24 to officially inaugurate the $6.4B Gordie Howe International Bridge.

The crossing will officially open to traffic on Monday, July 27, 2026, welcoming travellers as early as 12:00 p.m. The bridge and connecting facilities transform how people and goods move across North America by creating a direct, highway-to-highway connection between Ontario’s Highway 401 and Michigan’s Interstate-75, along a corridor where there is $300 billion a year in trade between Michigan and Ontario. It is designed with six bridge lanes, 16 toll lanes and 60 Canada and U.S. inspection lanes.

On-site agencies such as the Canada Border Services Agency, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency, US Customs and Border Protection, the US Department of Agriculture, the US Fish and Wildlife Service, and the US Food and Drug Administration, have worked together to prepare their new facilities, train staff and ensure a seamless transition.

“The opening of the Gordie Howe International Bridge reinforces our commitment to safeguarding food, animal, and plant health,” said Hon. Heath MacDonald, minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada. “The Bridge’s new CFIA office is designed to improve service delivery, strengthen our animal health inspection capacity, and reduce inspection times – all of which will allow for increased trade opportunities for Canadian businesses while protecting our people and animals.” 

The opening has been much anticipated by the Ontario Greenhouse Vegetable Growers (OGVG) who export about 85 per cent of production to the U.S. 

"The Gordie Howe International Bridge stands as a powerful symbol of the deep economic integration between Canada and the United States,” said Richard Lee, executive director, OGVG. “For OGVG members, it highlights how strategic trade infrastructure drives investment, strengthens supply chains, and supports resilient businesses and communities on both sides of the border."

Supporting efficient traffic movement, the 16 state-of-the-art toll lanes located at the Canadian Port of Entry were designed with customers in mind allowing for various payment methods including Breakaway, the Gordie Howe International Bridge toll discount program. Account holders enjoy lower toll rates, time savings and hassle-free payment.  

Source: Gordie Howe International Bridge July 24, 2026 news release