The opening of the long-delayed Gordie Howe international bridge between Ontario and Michigan has been delayed, the Windsor-Detroit Bridge Authority said in a statement.
The delay comes as Canada and the U.S. are “taking the necessary time to resolve any outstanding issues,” the authority said.
“Canada and the United States have agreed to delay the opening of the bridge, taking the necessary time to resolve any outstanding issues,” Chuck Andary, Interim CEO and and chief legal officer of the Windsor-Detroit Bridge Authority said.
On Tuesday, Prime Minister Mark Carney had indicated that the bridge would open by the end of this week, despite resistance from U.S. President Donald Trump.
“The bridge will be open at the end of the week. (It is) a symbol, but also a fact of cooperation between our countries. Great for Canadians going across the border, Americans coming across the border, and for commerce,” Carney said.
The future of the bridge was thrown into jeopardy when Trump said in February that he will block the opening of the new bridge and trade route until the United States is “compensated for everything we have given” Canada.
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Trump’s position on the bridge “has not changed,” a White House official told Global News Tuesday.
“The President’s position on the Gordie Howe Bridge has not changed. The Administration remains committed to securing the best possible deal for the American people,” the official said.
The Canadian government funded the entire project, which will be publicly owned by both Canada and Michigan.
The bridge is meant to serve as a new crossing within the busy Ontario-Michigan trade corridor and aims to ease traffic on the nearby Ambassador Bridge. About a third of all trade between the U.S. and Canada occurs between Detroit and Windsor.
Infrastructure Minister Gregor Robertson, who is responsible for the file federally, said on Tuesday that a date for the ribbon-cutting is being worked on “right now” and the bridge will be open in the coming days.
Robertson, like Carney, did not answer questions about whether Canada offered any concessions to get the bridge opened.
“I just want to salute those who constructed it on both sides, and looking forward to getting it done,” Carney said.
— with files from Global’s Sean Boynton and Reggie Cecchini, and the Canadian Press
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