No wait times reported for travellers at Windsor-Detroit border

Canada-U.S. border reopens, what is crossing like? CTV Windsor’s Rich Garton goes through what crossing the border was like on the first day of reopening.

Windsor, Ont. — There are no wait times reported for travellers at the two Windsor-Detroit border crossings on the first day in 20 months that fully vaccinated Canadians were allowed to cross for non-essential reasons.

Both the Detroit Windsor Tunnel and Ambassador Bridge were reporting no delays as of 11 a.m. Monday morning.

The Canada to U.S. wait times and U.S. to Canada wait times are posted on federal government websites.

CTV Windsor reporter Rich Garton says it took him no time to cross Monday morning. Although he did his research beforehand to ensure he had all of the federal requirements for crossing, such as proof of vaccination and a PCR test for his return to Canada.

Other land border crossings are reporting delays. As of 11:14 a.m. Monday, there was a 50-minute delay for U.S.-bound travellers at the Blue Water Bridge crossing between Sarnia, Ont. and Port Huron, Mich.

Garton made a stop at Lafayette Coney Island where he ran into a few Windsorites.

Dianne and Mark Bourdeau drove over from Windsor Monday morning as well.

“Feels great, feels good to get away, feels good to get over here, shopping, got to be here, at Lafayette Coney Island, before we get on a plane and go south,” Mark said.

“I’m just very excited, I’m so happy to be back, to be free, to be able to go and do, to have our lives back,” Dianne said.

Garton said his way back home was no different, with no other cars waiting.

With a $150-fee for the PCR test, many say they will wait until that requirement is gone before a venture into Detroit.