DETROIT (AP) 鈥� A major linking Canada and the U.S. at Detroit opened Monday to trucks, cars and other vehicles, the climax of a yearslong project that lately had been bruised a bit by international politics.
Descendants of Gordie Howe, the hockey legend whose name is on the bridge, were among the first to cross over the Detroit River, which separates the Motor City from Windsor, Ontario. U.S. Sen. Gary Peters, D-Mich., rode a motorcycle, while Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer drove a Ford Mustang with the top down.
The six-lane span, which was built by Canada at a cost of $6.4 billion Canadian, now becomes a less-expensive alternative to the , which had a monopoly on big trucks carrying goods worth billions between the two countries, especially in service to the auto industry.
鈥淭here are thousands of trucks that go over鈥� daily, said Kevin Ketels, a business professor who teaches supply chain management at Wayne State University.
Jim Pereira, who was hauling auto parts for Ontario-based Onfreight Logistics, was recognized as the first trucker to arrive in Detroit. He blasted his air horn a few times and stepped down from the wheel to take selfies with customs officers and exchange high-fives.
Pereira, 58, said he anticipates faster travel times on both sides as trucks approach the wide bridge.
鈥淚t’s just a beautiful piece of architecture,鈥� he said.
Canada鈥檚 minister of infrastructure noted that the bridge resembles the curve of a hockey stick blade. Steel cables, stretching from towers to the deck, look like giant music harps.
Freddie Garrett, 81, said he regularly watched construction 鈥渆ver since they put the foundation in鈥� back in 2018. So naturally he showed up at Delray Park in Detroit to see the first vehicles moving overhead.
鈥淚t was amazing to see how they did it,鈥� Garrett said. 鈥淭hey put up one section at a time and then they met together in the middle. I’m sure it will be there longer than I’ll be around.鈥�
Last week, Canada celebrated the Gordie Howe International Bridge with a in Windsor. U.S. and Michigan representatives were uninvited after President Donald Trump suddenly announced entering America.
More than 70% of go to the U.S., making America its largest trade partner, and Detroit is the No. 1 port for truck traffic on the U.S.-Canada border, .
Animosity between the governments of the two countries 鈥渉as been very challenging for us in this region,鈥� Ketels said. 鈥淢any feel it’s unneeded and unnecessary.鈥�
The span is 1.5 miles (2.4 kilometers) long and rises 151 feet (46 meters) above the river at its highest point. Pedestrians and bicyclists will be able to cross it for free, starting Aug. 5.
Howe is a Canadian icon known as who wore No. 9 while playing for the NHL鈥檚 Detroit Red Wings. He died in 2016.
A recent agreement between Canada and the Trump administration says Canada will share some toll revenue with the U.S. government for 15 years. Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder in 2012 separately negotiated a share for the state, but it won’t be paid until Canada鈥檚 costs are recovered, likely decades from now.
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