(Windsor, ON) The new Gordie Howe International Bridge between Windsor, ON and Detroit, MI, is slated to open with a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Friday, June 12, according to the latest news reports from CBC, CTV and others, although there is some trepidation that U.S. President Donald Trump may attempt to scuttle plans – the planned ribbon cutting on June 12 has been delayed read more here.

Trump sparked controversy back in February 2026 when he threatened to block the opening via a post on his Truth Social channel demanding that the U.S. be granted half-ownership and compensation, while falsely claiming that it was built without American steel.

The bridge is co-owned by Canada and the state of Michigan, and Canada funded the entire $6.4 billion construction upfront. The bridge authority contract also explicitly mandates that iron and steel materials must be produced either in Canada or from a combination of American and Canadian sources.

The mammoth bridge project, which is a major commercial initiative that has been jointly built by Canada and the USA, 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 cyclists and pedestrians.

The path is separated from vehicle traffic by concrete barriers and links to local trail systems on both sides of the border.

Until recently, the use of e-bikes for crossing the bridge was under review, but confirmation has now been given as Windsor City Council has updated a bylaw allowing pedal-assisted e-bikes on certain pathways in parks such as Malden Park, and on Windsor’s riverfront trail, to encourage cyclists to come into the city. There’s a 20 km/hr speed limit on multi-use paths and a 32 km/hr on bikes lanes and roads.

“It basically makes us compliant so that when the Gordie Howe bridge opens we won’t be the barrier, on our side, from people using pedal assist bikes across the bridge,” Mayor Drew Dilkens told CBC.

Dilkens also reported to Vassy Kapelos on CTV’s Power Play that he’s been invited to an official event on Friday, June 12, for the ribbon-cutting opening of the new Gordie Howe International Bridge – the planned ribbon cutting has been delayed read more here.

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.

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.

“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 will make the crossing doable for many more riders.

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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