Gordie Howe bridge will reduce truck traffic at Ambassador Bridge

A U.S. Department of Homeland Security analysis says the new Gordie Howe bridge will cut commercial traffic at the Ambassador Bridge from nearly three million vehicles a year to about 1.6 million, and the new span is expected to open this year.

The new Gordie Howe bridge linking Windsor, Ont., and Detroit is scheduled to open this year and is expected to change how people and goods cross the Canada–U.S. border. A U.S. Department of Homeland Security analysis published as part of a rule naming the span an official port of entry projects significant shifts in traffic among the region's crossings. The analysis assigns the new bridge the largest share of commercial traffic in the area. The issue has drawn political attention after the U.S. president publicly threatened to block the bridge's opening unless Canada provides concessions. Key findings: - DHS projects commercial traffic at the privately owned Ambassador Bridge will fall from nearly three million vehicles annually to about 1.6 million once the Gordie Howe bridge opens. - DHS estimates the Gordie Howe span will attract roughly 45% of regional commercial vehicle traffic and about 28% of passenger vehicle traffic; the Ambassador Bridge's commercial share would drop from about 65% to 33% and its passenger share from about 36% to 23%. - The Windsor–Detroit tunnel is projected to decline from about 3.8 million annual crossings to roughly 2.2 million, with the loss largely among passenger vehicles. - The Ambassador Bridge is privately owned by the Moroun family, which has opposed the new crossing; the bridge company has also spent on lobbying and the family has made political donations, according to the reporting. - Tal Czudner, CEO of the tunnel, said the tunnel budgeted for an initial drop in traffic and expressed optimism that long-term impacts will be manageable. Summary: The DHS analysis indicates a marked redistribution of cross-border vehicle traffic, with the new Gordie Howe bridge taking a large share of commercial flows and nearby crossings expected to see declines. The bridge is expected to open this year, and public statements by U.S. officials have raised questions about the project's immediate timeline. Undetermined at this time.