With the Gordie Howe International Bridge set to open to traffic on July 27, many Windsor-Essex residents say they are eager to see what the long-awaited crossing will mean for the region. After years of construction and several delays, officials announced Friday that the new international crossing will begin serving travellers and commercial traffic later this month. According to some residents, the opening represents an opportunity to improve cross-border travel and boost the local economy. Marissa Belcina, who commutes to the United States for work every day, believes the bridge will benefit both commuters and businesses. “It will be good for everybody, not just people that are working in the U.S. or the commuters to the U.S. and back, and it will be good for commerce,” she said. Others hope the bridge will ease traffic congestion on Huron Church Road, the city’s long-standing truck route to the Ambassador Bridge. Wayne Doucette expects commercial traffic to shift to the new crossing. “I think it’ll be a lot better and more easy access for the truckers coming across rather than the old Ambassador because the Ambassador is basically falling apart, and it’s time for that one to be upgraded by transferring a lot of the traffic that way and getting more direct on to the 401 rather than through Huron Church,” he said. He added that fewer trucks could improve safety near neighbourhood schools along the corridor, “It’ll be a lot easier, especially for the one school down there and for the school buses. It must be heck trying to deal with all those trucks going by all the time.” Eric Beaupre shares that hope. “Hopefully the traffic on Huron Church will get better and less congested,” he said. Beaupre also said he’s looking forward to experiencing the bridge firsthand, whether by walking, cycling or driving across it. Motorcyclist Todd Turner, who lives in Essex County, said he plans to make the new crossing part of an upcoming trip. “I’ve got a planned trip later in August. So we will definitely go,” he said. Turner believes the new bridge could draw traffic away from the Ambassador Bridge, adding many in the motorcycle community are looking forward to using it, since motorcycles are strictly prohibited in the Detroit-Windsor Tunnel. Not everyone is focused solely on transportation. Amos Elliott expects the bridge to become an attraction in its own right. “Everybody’s going to start using the new bridge, right? Because it’s going to be new, it’s going to be interesting, and it’s going to be something that strikes the curiosity,” he said. He added that he plans to cross the bridge once it opens. Some residents also reflected on the financial agreement surrounding the bridge after the United States declined to share toll revenue. “It’s sad that Canada put all of this time and effort into building the bridge, and we won’t get all of our money back, but, you know, we have to be good neighbours,” said Viprah Shah. Jackie Jeeva said the issue has left some Canadians disappointed, “I think it has left Windsor a little bit kind of dismayed. I think there’s already kind of tensions between Canada and the U.S. So this has been contributing to it a little bit. But, you know, we’re Canadian. So we will accept that, at least we’re getting 50 per cent of it.” Despite the official opening date, a few residents acknowledged previous delays have made them reluctant to celebrate too early. “They’ve been toying with us thus far,” Turner said. “But I’m going to say I hope that they open.” The Gordie Howe International Bridge is expected to officially open to travellers and commercial traffic on July 27, creating a new direct connection between Highway 401 in Windsor and Interstate 75 in Detroit. With files from CTV Windsor’s Travis Fortnum
