Border authorities have opened an additional crossing at one of the busiest stretches of the Canada-U.S. border.
The Gordie Howe International Bridge has officially opened to traffic as of July 27, 2026, according to a news release published by the Windsor-Detroit Bridge Authority on July 24.
Assess your eligibility for Canadian permanent residence
Spanning the Detroit River, it provides a third crossing between Ontario and Michigan, alongside the Ambassador Bridge and Windsor–Detroit Tunnel, two of the most congested border crossings in North America.
The bridge was built to relieve a longstanding bottleneck in the Windsor–Detroit corridor. Crossing the Ambassador Bridge, for example, can require a multi-hour wait—particularly during peak hours.
The new bridge and border crossing will be open 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and will allow passage for automobiles, motorcycles, RVs, and semi-trucks.
The port of entry includes express lanes for members of the Trusted Travellers Program (NEXUS) and qualifying transporters of commercial goods (FAST).
Pedestrians and cyclists will also be able to cross the bridge via a multi-use path separate from motor vehicle traffic beginning August 5, making it the first Windsor-Detroit crossing available to non-motorized traffic.
The standard passenger vehicle toll will be 8 CAD (5.75 USD), and 12 CAD (8.75 USD) for large commercial trucks, oversized vehicles, and larger passenger vehicles. The multi-use path will be toll-free.
According to a July 24 press release from the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA), the Gordie Howe International Bridge is now “Canada’s largest and most technologically advanced land border crossing.”
The opening of the new bridge, designed to support faster and more reliable cross-border travel, marks the culmination of over two decades of collaboration between Canadian and U.S. authorities.
The bridge is jointly owned by the Canadian federal government and the State of Michigan.
Its planned opening for June 12 had been delayed on account of disputes over the treatment of toll revenue, and the ceremonial opening on July 24 took place without the presence of U.S. officials.
The bridge is named for Gordie Howe, a Canadian hockey icon whose professional career was largely defined by his years with the Detroit Red Wings.
Travellers planning on using the new crossing can find real-time border wait times on the CBSA’s official port of entry webpage.
Those entering Canada through this port of entry must have the appropriate travel documentation.
Following the opening of the Gordie Howe International Bridge, Canada now has a total of 118 land border ports of entry.
Assess your eligibility for Canadian permanent residence