May 3, 2026 - The new Gordie Howe International Bridge is a major infrastructure project connecting Detroit, Michigan and Windsor, Ontario, scheduled to open in 2026. The novel bridge, which is a major commercial initiative, will also be a big boon for biking and cycling tourism, as it features a 2.5-kilometre (1.5-mile), 12-foot-wide, toll-free path for pedestrians and cyclists. The path is separated from vehicle traffic by concrete barriers and links to local trail systems on both sides of the border.

In Canada, the path connects riders to the Malden Park Trailhead via the Broadway St. Multi-Use Path, Windsor Riverfront Trail, LaSalle Parkway Trail, Trans Canada Trail and Great Lakes Waterfront Trail. In the U.S., the path connects cyclists to the Clark Park Trailhead, Joe Louis Greenway, Detroit Riverwalk, Iron Belle Trail and Great Lakes Way.

Cycling advocates, politicians and the public on both sides of the border pushed for the inclusion of cycling from the get-go, and now it’s officially a dream come true.

“Tourism associations, cycling groups, and the communities in the early days of the designs said how important it was to include this path, knowing that we couldn’t go back and add it later, and that we had to do it from day one,” said Heather Grondin, Chief Relations Officer for the Windsor-Detroit Bridge Authority, to CTV. “Completely separate from vehicular traffic, and we did that to ensure that cyclists and pedestrians will be kept safe and have their own unique journey in crossing the bridge.”

The cycling tourism opportunities are enormous for the new multi-use path on the Gordie Howe International Bridge, featured on the cover of this year’s Tourism Windsor Essex Pelee Island 2026/2027 Official Visitor Guide, which was recently released.

Detroit Greenways and Bike Windsor Essex have also teamed up to provide information and bike trail maps from both sides of the border to help promote and inform riders. The info package includes how to access and take advantage of the new bridge crossing to enjoy riverfront trails, skyline views and world-class amenities.

Back in 2022 the Trans Canada Trail, steward of the longest recreational trail network in the world (28,000km) and largest investor in trail infrastructure projects in Canada, the Waterfront Regeneration Trust (WRT) in Ontario (3,600km), the Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan, and the Michigan Department of Natural Resources announced the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to develop a binational Great Lakes tourism destination opportunity.

The Great Lakes Way is an interconnected set of 160 miles (256km) of greenways and 156 miles (250km) of water trails stretching from southern Lake Huron through western Lake Erie along southeast Michigan’s coastline.

Crossing the Gordie Howe International Bridge is anticipated to take about 20 minutes by bike or 45 minutes on foot. International documents are required, and border processing times may add to the total length of time it takes to cross.

The total distance from trailhead to trailhead is 7.1km/4.9 miles, and the use of e-bikes to make the crossing is still under review — with announcements to come.

The Gordie Howe International Bridge is a six-lane, 853-metre cable-stayed main span, making it the longest in North America, with a 125-year service life at a cost of $6.4 billion.

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