The U.S. ambassador to Canada says Washington and Ottawa have yet to reach an agreement on opening the long-delayed Gordie Howe International Bridge. Speaking to reporters during a media event in Lansing earlier this week, Pete Hoekstra was quoted by the Detroit News as saying that the Trump administration has not finalized the terms of the agreement with the Canadian government, but insisted that the issue would ultimately be resolved.
Despite the ambassador's comments, Windsor Mayor Drew Dilkens said he remains hopeful that the bridge will open to cross-border traffic this May. “The Windsor-Detroit Bridge Authority continues to point to a spring opening, and we remain hopeful that the Gordie Howe International Bridge will open this May,” Dilkens told the Star in an emailed statement Thursday morning.
“Ambassador Hoekstra has said he believes this will get worked out, and I hope he’s right because once the Gordie Howe International Bridge opens, we can shift from the conversation around tolling truckers on Huron Church Road and focus on the economic opportunity this vital cross-border infrastructure unlocks for Windsor, Detroit, Canada and the United States.”
Revenue Sharing Dispute
According to the Detroit News, Hoekstra is concerned about the deal underpinning the massive infrastructure project. Under the agreement, Canada financed construction of the Gordie Howe bridge and will recoup costs through toll revenues until its debt is paid off. Once Canada’s investment is accounted for, Michigan is to receive a share of toll revenues.
However, since the bridge has now come in over budget — about $6.4 billion (up from $5.7 billion) — and officials are projecting lower-than-expected traffic volumes, Hoekstra told reporters that he is wary about how quickly Canada can recover its investment through tolls. He said this will only further delay Michigan eventually recouping its share of the revenue.
Mayor Defends Agreement
Dilkens said the “fair and reasonable” agreement struck more than a decade ago was mutually agreed upon by both countries. “The Gordie Howe International Bridge is critical infrastructure not just for Windsor, but for the entire North American supply chain,” said Dilkens.
“It has been more than 25 years in the making, and Windsor is ready to see it open. Canada stepped up, Canada funded it, and together with American workers, we built this bridge because we understand what it means for trade, manufacturing, and the future of our deeply integrated North American supply chains.”
“The agreement between our countries has always been clear — Canada would recover its costs through toll revenues, and after that, revenues would be shared equally between Canada and the United States. That was the understanding reached in 2012, both sides agreed to it, and it remains a fair and reasonable arrangement.”
