The new bridge connecting Detroit to Canada won't open until fall 2025

DETROIT– A second bridge connecting Detroit and Canada over the Detroit River won't open for travel until fall 2025, months later than expected, officials said Thursday.

Officials cited construction disruptions in the U.S. and Canada due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Gordie Howe International Bridge, named after a Canadian who played hockey for the NHL's Detroit Red Wings, was begun in 2018 and was last expected to be completed in 2024.

The target now is September 2025, although the bridge deck should be ready this year.

“Our project team is pleased that the impact on the construction schedule will be limited to just 10 months beyond the original contractual completion date,” said Charl van Niekerk, general manager of the Windsor-Detroit Bridge Authority.

The project carries a price tag of CA$6.4 billion ($4.79 billion), up from CA$5.7 billion ($4.27 billion).

The Howe Bridge will join the privately owned Ambassador Bridge as the second span connecting Detroit and Windsor, Ontario.

The Ambassador Bridge is considered the busiest border crossing between the US and Canada, carrying 25% of all trade between the two countries. It plays a particularly important role in car production.