The Gordie Howe International Bridge is open. The first public vehicles rolled across the Detroit River on Monday morning, July 27, reported on the span by mid-morning, ahead of the planned noon start, and the region’s first new international crossing in nearly a century is officially in business. Here is how opening day went, what it costs to cross, and what comes next.
Opening Day at a Glance
| Open to traffic | Monday, July 27, 2026, with public crossings reported by mid-morning |
| First passenger vehicle | Gordie Howe, grandson of Mr. Hockey, with his wife Margaret, in a Dodge Charger |
| First commercial truck | Onfreight Logistics of Tecumseh, Ontario |
| Toll | $5.75 USD / $8 CAD each way, 25 percent off with the Breakaway program |
| Walk or bike | Free Multi-Use Path opens August 5 |
A Howe Crossed First
The bridge carries the name of Detroit’s greatest hockey son, and the first passenger crossing kept it in the family. Gordie Howe, grandson of the legend, drove across with his wife Margaret around 9:45 a.m., about two hours before the public rolled on, and he did it in a Dodge Charger, which is about as Detroit as an opening act gets. The first commercial crossing went to a truck from Onfreight Logistics, a Tecumseh, Ontario company, a fitting start for a bridge built first and foremost for trade.
What It Costs, and What You Need
If you want to make the drive, the crossing connects I-75 in Detroit directly to Highway 401 in Windsor, no surface streets involved. Passenger tolls run $5.75 USD or $8 CAD each way, and the Breakaway discount program cuts 25 percent off for registered users. Bring a passport, NEXUS card, or enhanced license, the same as any border crossing. Our bridge explainer has the full background on the $6.4 billion span.
The First Numbers Are In
Statistics Canada released the bridge’s first traffic figures, covering July 27 through 31, and they answer the question of whether anyone would actually use it. More than 41,000 people crossed into Canada in the first five days, made up of 18,900 Canadian resident return trips and 18,100 U.S. residents heading over. About 4,100 commercial trucks entered Canada in that window, with roughly 4,000 more crossing into the United States.
The number that matters most is the share. In its first five days, the new bridge carried roughly 44 percent of all land crossings from Detroit to Windsor, against 52,700 inbound trips over the Ambassador Bridge and the tunnel combined. A crossing that did not exist in June took nearly half the market by the first of August.
What Opens Next
The bridge saves its most unusual feature for next week. On August 5, the free Multi-Use Path opens, and you will be able to walk or bike from Detroit to Windsor for the first time in the modern era, starting at the Clark Park trailhead in Southwest Detroit. Our path guide covers the parking, customs, and route details. Meanwhile, the neighborhoods around the bridge begin their own next chapter, and the August calendar now includes an international border crossing you can cross on foot.
After more than a quarter century of planning, eight years of construction, and one very political month, the second span over the Detroit River is carrying traffic. The Ambassador Bridge has company.
Gordie Howe Bridge Opening FAQ
Is it open right now?
Yes, as of Monday morning, July 27, 2026.
Who crossed first?
Gordie Howe, grandson of the bridge’s namesake, with his wife Margaret, in a Dodge Charger. Onfreight Logistics of Tecumseh made the first commercial crossing.
What does it cost?
$5.75 USD or $8 CAD each way for cars, with a 25 percent Breakaway discount available.
When does the walking path open?
August 5, free, from the Clark Park trailhead.