Huge $6.4 billion U.S. border bridge in Ontario could be delayed by months

The sprawling Gordie Howe International Bridge spanning the U.S.-Canada border between Detroit and Windsor was expected to welcome motorists this fall, but a damning new report suggests the $6.4 billion infrastructure investment is running behind schedule.

The international team behind the enormous project has been sharing frequent updates on the late stages of construction, with the Windsor-Detroit Bridge Authority having publicly stated that only two per cent of work remains ahead of the anticipated fall opening, and remaining adamant that the crossing will welcome motorists this year.

Most recently, the bridge surpassed a huge milestone with the removal of the soaring tower cranes that were used to assist in the project's realization. 

"After five years, the massive red and blue tower cranes that could be found working on the Gordie Howe International Bridge construction have retired from the project," reads a July 30 newsletter shared by the project team.

But, despite the flow of good news for the project in recent months, construction might not reach the finish line this fall as expected, according to a report from finance and analytics giant S&P Global.

S&P's outlook on the project suggests a delay that could stretch as long as six months, pushing the opening timeline to spring 2026.

Bridge officials have neglected to provide a specific opening date for the new crossing, and the report may shed some light on why the project team has remained tight-lipped regarding the timeline.

The report from late April, unearthed in July, states that the project timeline could be extended by as much as six months if customs facilities — including the single-largest new port of entry on the Canadian border — were not handed over to the Canada Border Services Agency and U.S. Customs and Border Protection by May 2025.

Among the issues identified by S&P, the bridge's highway connection on the Michigan side was reportedly running behind schedule as of this spring, though bridge officials maintain that work on joining the bridge with I-75 is now in the final stages, including installation of road signs.

News of potential delays has made headlines on both sides of the border, though the bridge team continues its public relations campaign with the release of impressive new construction photos captured in July.

In addition to the recent crane removal, the bridge team announced in July that "Canadian and U.S. flags have found their permanent home at centre of the bridge deck," adding that "Soon you'll be able to see the flags for yourself from the multi-use path as you walk or bike across the bridge."

The multi-use path is quickly coming together, and new photos offer a glimpse of how this international pedestrian and cyclist crossing will allow users to get up close and personal with the cable-stayed bridge's structural elements.

Other finishing touches are quickly coming together, like overhead lane indicator signals that will soon guide motorists to open customs booths.

Upon completion, the Gordie Howe International Bridge will close a missing link in a busy trucking route between Michigan's I-75 and Ontario's Highway 401.

In addition to its importance in international trade, the 2.5-kilometre-long bridge now holds the record for the longest cable-stayed bridge span in North America.