Gordie Howe Bridge, In Thanedar’s District, Set To Open After Toll Deal Struck

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India- West News Desk

DETROIT, MI – Rep. Shri Thanedar (D-MI) had been leading efforts to end delays surrounding the Gordie Howe International Bridge, a critical US-Canada trade link that is now set to open on July 27 following an agreement on sharing net toll profits.

Thanedar, who represents the district where the bridge is located, joined by senior Democratic members of the House Homeland Security Committee had been demanding that the administration stop blocking the opening of the long-delayed crossing.

The $4.5 billion Gordie Howe International Bridge, financed by Canada, connects Detroit and Windsor, Ontario, and faced years of opposition from the owners of the Ambassador Bridge, the existing privately operated crossing between the two countries. Shri Thanedar Urges Trump to Open Gordie Howe Bridge

Critics of the delay had pointed to the Moroun family, owners of the Ambassador Bridge, and their political ties to the Trump administration. The family recently made a major donation to a political group aligned with President Donald Trump.

The opening was cleared after the United States and Canada reached an agreement under which Canada will provide the US with the equivalent of half of the bridge’s operating profits after expenses. The funds will go to a US-run regional development fund, officials said.

The arrangement does not change the original agreement between Canada and Michigan, which allowed Canada to collect toll revenue until it recovered construction costs. After that, the revenue was to be divided equally.

The agreement ended a standoff between the two trading partners over the bridge’s opening.

The Gordie Howe International Bridge is expected to expand trade capacity between the United States and Canada and provide an additional route for the movement of goods between two major trading partners.