There may finally be an opening date for the Gordie Howe International Bridge.
The Associated Press, citing two unnamed sources, reported on Friday afternoon that the bridge will open to traffic by the end of July, after Canadian and U.S. government officials reportedly reached an agreement.
The sources were not named because they were not authorized to comment publicly ahead of any announcement.
WXYZ-TV Channel 7 in Detroit has also reported this development, citing the AP. The Detroit Free Press has cited former Michigan Congressman Mike Rogers, a candidate for the U.S. Senate, who told Detroit radio station WJR-AM (760) that a deal to open the bridge is "imminent."
A ribbon-cutting for the bridge was originally scheduled for last month, and even Prime Minister Mark Carney had said the bridge would open. However, both Canada and the U.S. announced within days that they had agreed to put off the opening.
U.S. President Donald Trump threatened in February to block the opening of the bridge until Canada fully compensated the U.S. for using only Canadian materials. In reality, the bridge was built using material from both countries.
An agreement was reached in 2012 between then-Prime Minister Stephen Harper and then-Michigan Governor Rick Snyder. Construction was funded by the Canadian government, covering the bridge, land acquisition on the Detroit side, and the on-ramps from I-75. In return, Canada will receive all of the toll revenue collected.
The bridge is jointly owned by the Canadian government and the State of Michigan.
WindsorNewsToday.ca has reached out to the Windsor-Detroit Bridge Authority (WDBA) for additional information.
More to come.
