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The bridge promises to ease congestion at existing crossings, boost U.S.-Canada trade, and include neighborhood revitalization in Delray and Sandwich Town with parks and cycling infrastructure. Despite delays, the project stays within revised budget parameters after pandemic-related adjustments. Officials completed community programs like Delray home improvements in January 2025. (Photo by WDBA)

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	More than 6,000 programmable, energy-efficient white LED fixtures have been installed across the bridge towers, stay cables, back span, piers, approach span and bridge deck. (Photo by WDBA)
	Trump's Ultimatum Halts Gordie Howe Bridge Amid US-Canada Tensions Jean Davis - Local/State Tell Us Detroit News DETROIT/WINDSOR — The long‑anticipated opening of the Gordie Howe International Bridge has been thrown into uncertainty after President Donald Trump threatened to block the new U.S.–Canada border crossing, effectively halting the project just as it enters final testing. The six‑lane, multibillion‑dollar span—funded almost entirely by Canada and jointly owned by Canada and the state of Michigan—was nearing completion and undergoing system inspections ahead of an expected opening later this year. Trump’s declaration that he will not allow the bridge to open until the United States is “fully compensated” has paused progress and raised alarms on both sides of the border. In public statements, Trump argued that Canada has treated the U.S. unfairly on trade, citing disputes over dairy tariffs, alcohol distribution, and Canada’s recent negotiations with China. He said the U.S. should “own at least one half of this asset” and vowed to begin negotiations immediately. Canadian officials and local leaders pushed back sharply. Windsor Mayor Drew Dilkens called the threat “just insane,” emphasizing that the bridge—entirely funded by Canada—remains vital to the economic integration of the Detroit‑Windsor corridor. Michigan lawmakers echoed the concern, warning that blocking the project would harm supply chains, raise costs for businesses, and jeopardize jobs across the region. The shutdown marks a dramatic twist in a project that has already weathered years of construction challenges, legal battles, and political maneuvering. Designed to relieve congestion at the Ambassador Bridge and strengthen North America’s busiest trade link, the Gordie Howe Bridge was in its final phase of testing with no official opening date announced. Its future now hinges on whether the two governments can resolve the escalating dispute.