A $6.4-billion bridge, years of delays and questions that Ottawa still has to answer

Floyd Brenz., Philippine Canadian Inquirer
September 25, 2026

Photo Courtesy: CBC News

CANADA – For years, the Gordie Howe International Bridge was presented as a major investment in the Canada-U.S. trade corridor. But even after the long-awaited crossing finally opened, questions remain about how the project got there — and how much the delays ultimately cost.

The $6.4-billion bridge connecting Windsor, Ontario, and Detroit, Michigan, opened to traffic on July 27, 2026, after several revisions to its construction and opening timelines. The project was initially expected to be completed in November 2024, with the contract later amended to target completion in September 2025.

The Windsor-Detroit Bridge Authority said the delays were linked to COVID-19 disruptions, testing and commissioning, quality-management requirements and construction activities. The bridge’s opening was also delayed in June after the United States requested additional time to resolve outstanding issues.

The project’s price tag also increased. The original estimate was $5.7 billion, while the contract value reached about $6.4 billion by 2024. Conservative MP Harb Gill, whose questions prompted the federal government to release additional information, is seeking more details about the changes that contributed to the roughly $700-million increase.

Government responses show that multiple agencies were involved in addressing the issues surrounding the delayed opening, including federal departments, the Windsor-Detroit Bridge Authority, Global Affairs Canada, Michigan’s transportation department and border agencies on both sides.

The June delay also became part of a broader Canada-U.S. political dispute. Prime Minister Mark Carney said the United States had requested the delay, while officials described the outstanding matters as technical and related to getting the crossing ready for operations.

Now that the bridge is operating, the focus is shifting from when it would open to whether the project will deliver the economic benefits promised by governments. The crossing adds six lanes and a multi-use path and is designed to provide additional capacity along one of North America’s busiest trade corridors.

But for critics seeking a fuller accounting, the opening may not be the end of the story.

After years of construction, delays and billions of dollars in spending, the next question is how much Ottawa will ultimately have to explain about the road that led to the bridge.