A new port of entry at the Gordie Howe International Bridge is poised to transform cross-border trade between Canada and the United States, as federal officials prepare for the opening of Canada’s largest and most technologically advanced land border crossing.

The new facility links Windsor, Ont., directly to Detroit, Mich., reinforcing Canada’s busiest commercial land trade corridor. The Windsor-Detroit gateway carries roughly 30 per cent of all Canada-U.S. trade moved by truck, representing more than $274 million in daily commerce. 

With the addition of the Gordie Howe crossing, Canada now operates 118 land border ports of entry, including three in the Windsor area alongside the existing Ambassador Bridge and the Windsor-Detroit Tunnel.

Officials say the new 24/7, high-capacity bridge is designed to ease severe commercial congestion along the corridor by providing travellers and commercial carriers with an efficient alternative route.

Supported by a frontline border workforce aimed at enhancing security while facilitating cross-border movement, the project was prepared in coordination with several key partners, including:

• The Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA)
• The Windsor-Detroit Bridge Authority
• U.S. Customs and Border Protection
• Infrastructure Canada
• The Canadian Food Inspection Agency
• Local community stakeholders