Gordie Howe International Bridge clears key U.S. step ahead of opening

The Gordie Howe International Bridge moved closer to carrying traffic this winter after U.S. authorities finalized a key administrative step to recognize the new Detroit–Windsor crossing as an official port of entry. The decision lands as the project shifts from heavy construction into intensive testing, a phase that will largely determine when the bridge can open to drivers, trucks, and eventually pedestrians and cyclists.

The bridge is designed to add crossing capacity and redundancy at one of North America’s busiest trade corridors, with new inspection plazas on both sides of the border and direct highway connections intended to streamline freight movement.

Gordie Howe International Bridge: port-of-entry status set

A final U.S. rule establishing the bridge crossing as a Class A port of entry is scheduled to take effect on March 2, 2026 (ET). That designation places the new crossing within the existing framework for customs and immigration operations tied to Detroit, while leaving the actual public opening dependent on a separate notice once the crossing is fully operational.

In practical terms, the port-of-entry designation is a prerequisite for staffing, procedures, and the formal operating structure needed for daily border processing. It does not, on its own, mean cars can start lining up immediately.

From construction to commissioning

With major construction largely complete, the project has entered a testing-and-commissioning stretch focused on verifying that every operational system works individually and as part of an integrated, bi-national crossing. The goal is to prevent last-minute surprises by pushing the systems through controlled scenarios before any public opening.

This stage typically takes time because it involves repeated cycles: inspect, test, adjust, re-test, and then validate performance under simulated real-world demand—especially during peak traffic periods and incident-response drills.

What’s being tested before opening day

Testing spans the bridge itself, the border-processing facilities, and the road network feeding the crossing. Key systems include:

• Intelligent transportation tools such as sensors, cameras, and traffic data systems used to monitor flow and manage incidents.

• Tolling infrastructure that must reliably read tags, process payments, and integrate customer accounts.

• Traffic management center operations, including the software and communications that coordinate responses across the bridge and plazas.

• Dynamic lane controls like electronic signs, signals, and barriers to safely adjust lanes based on demand.

• Border inspection technology, including scanning, imaging, and detection equipment required for government processing.

• Sitewide safety and security systems, from CCTV and access control to fire alarms and emergency-response integration.

An independent commissioning specialist is involved to verify that the work meets technical requirements and standards, adding another checkpoint before sign-off.

Why this bridge matters to trade

The Detroit–Windsor corridor is a high-volume gateway for U.S.–Canada commerce, particularly for auto manufacturing supply chains that depend on predictable cross-border timing. The new span is intended to relieve pressure on existing crossings by creating an additional, purpose-built route with modern inspection plazas and highway-to-highway connectivity.

The project also has a broader resilience angle: a new crossing reduces the risk that congestion, incidents, or maintenance at older links could bottleneck a critical trade route. For logistics planners, even small reliability improvements can translate into meaningful gains when multiplied across thousands of truck movements.

Key milestones and what’s next

Next steps center on readiness sign-offs, staffing and operating procedures, final signage and lane-control validation, and coordinated drills across both sides of the border. The opening date remains dependent on the completion of commissioning, quality reviews, and final operational approvals.

Sources consulted: Federal Register, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Windsor-Detroit Bridge Authority, Federal Highway Administration