Gordie Howe International Bridge opens, but Canada snubs U.S. officials at ceremony

Canada officially cut the ribbon on the Gordie Howe International Bridge on Monday, opening the long-awaited crossing that connects Windsor, Ontario, to Detroit, Michigan. The ceremony, however, notably excluded U.S. officials, underscoring tensions over trade and cross-border cooperation. The bridge, named after the Canadian hockey legend, is the longest cable-stayed bridge in North America and cost roughly $4.4 billion. It is designed to carry four lanes of traffic, with a capacity to handle up to 12,000 trucks per day. For now, only the Canadian side is operational; U.S. customs facilities are not yet ready. The project has been in the works for nearly two decades, with construction beginning in 2018. It is a public-private partnership involving the Canadian government and a private consortium. The bridge aims to ease chronic bottlenecks at the busiest commercial land border crossing. The exclusion of U.S. representatives from Monday's event reflects lingering friction over trade issues, including recent tariffs and delays in U.S. investment in border infrastructure. For truckers and commuters, the bridge promises shorter wait times and more reliable crossings. But full benefits will not be felt until the U.S. side completes its inspection plaza, expected later this year. The opening marks a major milestone for Canada's trade corridor, though the diplomatic slight may complicate future binational projects.