Gordie Howe bridge opening date being ‘quietly’ negotiated to avoid angering Trump: source

Mike Le Couteur reports on the potential opening of the Gordie Howe Bridge following controversy involving U.S. President Donald Trump earlier this year.

OTTAWA – The opening date of the new bridge linking Canada and the U.S. is being quietly negotiated to let the criticism around it die down, according to an American source familiar with talks.

The source tells CTV News both sides are trying not to do anything that would “trigger the kooks and crackpots” around U.S. President Donald Trump, who has threatened to block the opening of the Gordie Howe International Bridge on the American side.

CTV News isn’t naming the source, because they were not authorized to speak about the discussions over the opening of the bridge. However, they say it has been a big collective effort on both sides of the border.

Officials representing the Crown corporation in charge of the new span continue to say the bridge is expected to open in the spring of 2026, without giving an exact date.

“It’s just the reality of building new technology and new built infrastructure,” said Heather Grondin, chief relations officer for the Windsor-Detroit Bridge Authority.

“We have to make some adjustments that we need to retest or recalibrate, and across this whole system, that ranges from things like our tolling system, our traffic management centre, the esthetic lights that people are seeing on the bridge”.

Questions over when the bridge would open have persisted for the last two months as construction wrapped up, but the threats ramped up from Washington, D.C.

In a Feb. 9 post on Truth Social, U.S. President Donald Trump complained that Canada wasn’t treating the U.S. fairly when it came to trade, and he went on a lengthy tirade, including the construction of the Gordie Howe International Bridge as part of his grievance.

• READ: Trump threatens to block opening of new bridge between Windsor and Detroit
• READ: Democrats say they’re escalating investigation into Gordie Howe bridge debacle

Pointing out Canada owns both sides of the bridge in both countries, Trump wrote, “I will not allow this bridge to open until the United States is fully compensated for everything we have given them, and also, importantly, Canada treats the United States with the Fairness and Respect that we deserve”.

In the post, Trump complained about Canada’s supply-managed dairy sector, the removal of American spirits from Ontario-run liquor stores and the apparent lack of U.S. content in the Canadian-built Gordie Howe International bridge.

CTV News reached out to the Canadian government to ask if Trump’s threat is affecting the announcement of the opening date of the $6.4-billion bridge.

In a statement, the department of Housing, Infrastructure and Communities Canada said progress is being made towards the opening of the bridge this spring.

“The exact opening date depends on the completion of the ongoing quality reviews and testing and commissioning activities,” wrote Caleb Spassov from the department. “Updates will be provided as that information is available”.

While officials refuse to provide a clearer picture of exactly when the span will open to vehicle and pedestrian traffic, there are indications it could happen soon.

The toll discount program for the Gordie Howe International Bridge, which has been aptly named “Breakaway,” is seeing brisk sales.

“We’ve had over 5,000 accounts opened and over 12,000 transponders ordered through that process,” said Grondin. “We expect more to come as we announce an opening date.”