Gordie Howe Bridge Update: Completion Timeline, Toll Costs, and Economic Impact Revealed

Detroit—Windsor’s long-awaited Gordie Howe International Bridge has entered its final stretch, but officials now say motorists will have to wait a few extra months before rolling across the new cable-stayed span that will link Michigan and Ontario. Project leaders confirmed this week that the bridge is on track for structural completion by late 2025, yet traffic is not expected to flow until “as soon as early 2026,” allowing time for systems testing, customs installations, and staff training. The $5.9-billion megaproject—one of the largest current infrastructure builds in North America—has already achieved several marquee milestones. Both 220-metre‐tall towers are fully topped out, every stay cable is tensioned, and the final steel deck segments are being lifted into place over the Detroit River, closing a 853-metre main span that will rank among the world’s longest for its bridge type. Crews are now pouring the concrete riding surface, installing LED architectural lighting, and finishing the multi-use path that will give pedestrians and cyclists a rare chance to cross an international border under their own power. Why the schedule shift? According to the Windsor-Detroit Bridge Authority (WDBA), global supply-chain pressures earlier in the project and extra time needed for port-of-entry fit-out pushed the original 2025 traffic date into 2026. All six customs plazas—two for commercial trucks, two for passenger vehicles, and two for secondary inspection—require advanced scanning equipment and secure IT networks that must pass bi-national certification before opening day. Economic stakes are high Once operational, the Gordie Howe Bridge is expected to handle 30,000 vehicles per day and carry more than US $100 billion in annual trade, relieving the 94-year-old Ambassador Bridge and streamlining freight logistics across the continent’s busiest commercial border crossing. The new six-lane span will connect directly to I-75 in Detroit and Highway 401 in Windsor via dedicated feeder freeways, trimming up to 20 minutes from cross-border truck trips and cutting idling emissions in adjacent neighbourhoods. Local hiring, community benefits More than 2,500 workers—60 percent from Michigan and Ontario—are currently on-site, and the design-build-operate contract with Bridging North America obligates the consortium to invest $20 million in scholarships, workforce training, and neighbourhood improvements on both sides of the river. Recent projects include a new waterfront park in southwest Detroit and an Indigenous art installation at the Canadian port of entry. What’s next on the construction calendar? • Deck closure and final concrete pour: Q4 2025 • Intelligent Transportation System (ITS) integration: Winter 2025–26 • Tolling equipment calibration and dry runs: Spring 2026 • Official ribbon-cutting and public opening: Targeting early to mid-2026 Travelers can expect an all-electronic, cash-free toll system with variable pricing for peak freight periods. Rates will be posted at least six months before opening, alongside enrollment details for a dedicated commuter pass aimed at daily cross-border workers. Key takeaways for motorists and businesses • Opening delayed from late-2025 to early-2026, allowing for extensive safety and customs testing. • Structural work is over 95 percent complete; visible progress will focus on finishing touches and roadway approaches. • Six brand-new inspection plazas and direct freeway connections promise faster, greener trade flows. • Community-benefit dollars are still available for local nonprofits and small businesses through WDBA’s Neighborhood Infrastructure grants. With its soaring white towers already redefining the Detroit skyline, the Gordie Howe International Bridge remains a construction site today—but by 2026 it is poised to become a powerful new economic artery and an instant regional landmark. Stay tuned for monthly construction bulletins and an official opening-day countdown as North America’s newest international bridge prepares to welcome the world.