Multiple news sources are confirming that the Gordie Howe International Bridge from Windsor, Canada to Detroit opens this Friday, June 12th 2026! The Freep story says in part:
Multiple news sources are confirming that the Gordie Howe International Bridge from Windsor, Canada to Detroit ribbon cutting happens this Friday, June 12th 2026 at 1pm! The updated Freep story says in part:
A source who wasn’t authorized to speak publicly about the matter said the ribbon cutting was planned for Friday in the early afternoon and Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and former Gov. Rick Snyder were expected to be in attendance, though it was unclear if any federal officials would participate.
Although sources said a ribbon cutting is planned, it’s unclear exactly when the bridge will actually open to traffic after it takes place. One source with knowledge of the circumstances, who spoke anonymously because they were not authorized to speak publicly, indicated a deal between Canada and the Trump administration might allow the new bridge to open the week after the ribbon cutting, though the Free Press hadn’t confirmed that.
Stay tuned to Michpics for Gordie Howe Bridge updates, because if there’s anything we know about this issue, it’s that there unquestionably will be more drama.
For months, Canadian officials have maintained that the long-awaited opening of the $6.4 billion Gordie Howe International Bridge connecting Detroit and Windsor, Ont., is dependent on various testing and commissioning tasks.
But fresh comments from a Canadian cabinet member as well as two top U.S. officials suggests there is a link between the current trade war and the new border crossing’s opening timeline. A White House official on Friday said the Trump administration “continues to engage with all of our trading partners to resolve longstanding unfair trade practices.”
…Meanwhile, U.S. Ambassador to Canada Pete Hoekstra said in a statement Friday that “[d]iscussions on the Gordie Howe Bridge continue.” CBC News had asked his office similar questions about the bridge’s opening and whether it’s tied to broader trade talks. Earlier this month, Hoekstra reportedly said that Trump himself has to sign off on the opening. “There’s a lot of issues right now between the U.S. and Canada. The bridge is one more,” he told the Detroit News.
Windsor Aerial Drone Photography shared these photos & the video below from the first lighting of the Gordie Howe Bridge on September 18, 2025. Follow them on Facebook for their latest and view & purchase their work at windsoraerialdronephotography.com.
If you ever wonder how the sausage is made on Michigan in Pictures, it often goes a lot like this morning. I was about to repost Eric’s gorgeous photo of the Portage Lift Bridge from April 8, 2017 (seen below) when I stumbled on images from NASA’s Artemis II mission. Thoughts of astronauts looking down on us made me want to look up. That sent me to the Absolute Michigan photo group on Flickr to find a recent moon photo, and who should have a recent & perfect photo but Eric Hackney!!
Yesterday the Gordie Howe International Bridge raised hopes that an opening is imminent when they shared the initial toll rates. Passenger vehicles will pay a standard flat toll rate of $8 CAD/$5.75 USD per crossing while commercial trucks, oversized vehicles, and larger passenger vehicles pay a standard per axle toll rate of $12 CAD/$8.75 USD. They also offer a Breakaway discount program.
While there are a number of unknowns that could impact opening, one thing to note is the date of Gordie Howe’s birthday: March 31st – 3/31 to the 313?
Michael took these photos and the awesome video below when they first lit the entire bridge on September 18, 2025. He wrote (in part) “For those fortunate enough to be in the area, the Gordie Howe International Bridge started testing their led lighting system and entire span of the Gordie Howe International Bridge was illuminated just in time for sunset. The testing actually began in late afternoon and by dusk the full spectacle of this magnificent structure could be seen for miles across Windsor and Detroit area.”
Fortunate indeed!! Check out a few more photos he shared to the Michigan in Pictures group and the video below. You can also view & purchase his work at Windsor Aerial Drone Photography.
Apparently, the fact that Canada has paid for 100% of the construction project isn’t fair enough. IMO, it is deeply embarrassing to become a nation whose word can’t be trusted. Your mileage may vary, but please remember that’s not my or anyone elses problem.
Scattered1 took this photo back in December when the clouds were so low that they couldn’t see the top of the bridge’s 722-foot towers. See more in their massive Michigan gallery on Flickr.
Here’s a shot of a cross border handshake from 2024 to help us remember that the United States has no ally as true and vital as Canada. ♥️ 🇨🇦 🤍
The Gordie Howe International Bridge shares an interesting article & video on their ongoing Aesthetic Lighting Testing than 6,000 programmable, energy-efficient white LED fixtures have been installed across the bridge towers, stay cables, back span, piers, approach span and bridge deck. Each fixture is designed to last more than 100,000 hours with linear lights having the longest lifespan lasting up to 280,000 hours (10 to 30 years!).
St. James Marine Company shares that it was founded in the early 1970’s by Clyde Fogg as a hobby business and is now run by Clyde Fogg’s grandson, Matt, a graduate of the Great Lakes Maritime Academy in Traverse City. The company has two tugs, the Jennifer Anne Fogg and Clyde W. Fogg.
Julie shared this shot of the Clyde W. Fogg heading to Beaver Island with a fuel barge loaded with 35,000 gallons of fuel for the winter months in our Michigan in Pictures group. She captured it from the Charlevoix Bridge Cam and let me say that it’s way less frustrating watching the bridge from your computer than from your car!
Although Julie didn’t take the photo above, here are two more she did take from her Facebook. She has also shared a ton on Michigan in Pictures over the years, and I’ve linked to a few of my favorites below!
MightyMac.org is the leading resource for Mackinac Bridge news & photos. On Monday shared this shot of the USCG Cutter Mackinaw passing under the Mackinac Bridge Saturday on its journey to Chicago with 1,200 Christmas trees for families in need aboard. The ship is scheduled to arrive today (Friday, December 5th) and if you’re in the Windy City, you can head over to the Chicago Christmas Ship for all the info on the ship, the Christmas tree distribution, and how you can support this cool project.
The 1868 peak in sail-powered ships on Lake Michigan also marked the year the 123-foot Rouse Simmons was launched from Milwaukee’s shipyards. The ship was built by the firm of Allan, McClelland, and Company, one of Milwaukee’s preeminent shipbuilding firms …In the early 1870s, the Rouse Simmons joined the sizeable shipping fleet of wealthy lumber magnate and philanthropist Charles H. Hackley of Muskegon, hauling loads of lumber for Hackley’s fleet from company mills to the various markets around the lake for roughly 20 years.
By the late 19th and early 20th centuries, the popular German tradition of decorating an evergreen tree in the home was widely practiced, and it was not uncommon for a handful of lake schooners to make late-season runs from northern Michigan and Wisconsin loaded with thousands of Christmas trees for busy Chicago waterfront markets. Estimates of the number of Christmas schooners vary, but perhaps up to two dozen vessels in any season delivered evergreens to markets in Great Lakes states.
In Chicago, most vessels, including the Rouse Simmons, sold the trees directly from their berths along the Chicago River’s Clark Street docks. Electric lights were strung from the schooner’s bow to stern, and customers were invited to board the ship to choose their trees. In addition to selling Christmas trees, many boat operators, including Schuenemann, made and sold wreaths, garlands, and other holiday decorations. Barbara Schuenemann and her three daughters (Elsie is pictured above) helped make and sell these items as part of the family’s holiday trade.
You can read on for much more about Herman Schuenemann’s long career as “Captain Santa” which tragically came to an end on Friday, November 22, 1912 when the Rouse Simmons, heavily laden with 3,000–5,000 Christmas trees filling its hold & deck, left the dock at Thompson, Michigan looking “like a floating forest.” Sadly, the Rouse Simmons sailed into a powerful winter storm on the lake that sent her and several other ships including the South Shore, Three Sisters, and Two Brothers to the bottom of Lake Michigan.
Here’s a photo of Elsie Schuenemann at the helm of the Rouse Simmons along with one of the offloading in Chicago. Also be sure to check out a great video on the wreck of the Rouse Simmons by Richie Bravo.
Chris shared a perfect photo for a roundup of recent Detroit news saying: “Both projects broke ground in 2020. The Hudson’s site is now Detroit’s second tallest building, while the Gordie Howe Bridge is the longest cable-stayed bridge in North America. Also lit up is the Ambassador Bridge which recently reached its 100 year anniversary.” (the Ambassador is in the foreground with the string of lights).
While 98% of the $5.7 billion project is complete, bridge officials say the remaining work is forcing the delay from the previously announced fall 2025 opening … The final phase focuses heavily on testing the bridge’s technological systems.
…A report from S&P Global Ratings indicated that contractors had missed previous deadlines for transferring border facilities to authorities, though bridge officials would not specifically comment on this.
Detroit has definitely been on the come up in recent years, but it is still notable that 13 years after a poll showed two-thirds of Detroiters felt the city was moving in the wrong direction, a new survey found a dramatic, 180-degree turnaround with 76% feeling the city is headed in the right direction with 11% disagreeing & 13% having no opinion. Among that 11% is Livonia resident & leader of the Detroit News editorial page Nolan Finley, who ruffled more than a few feathers when he suggested that Detroiters are deluded to express contentment.
The Pure Michigan Fall Color Update says that parts of the Upper Peninsula including Marquette (60-80%) are nearing peak fall color while others like the Keweenaw Peninsula (40-60%) and Manistique (20-40%) are still a mix of fiery foliage and emerald green.
The Northern Lower Peninsula is flirting with 50% right now while southern Michigan is mostly just getting going, but they have estimates for peak color for Traverse City & Oscoda in the October 12-19th range and further south, Grand Rapids or Frankenmuth kicking off around October 20th with Kalamazoo, Ann Arbor & southern Michigan getting to peak around the 26th of this month.
Wherever you are, the cool weather has color coming on fast. As a bonus, Pure Michigan’s color report adds fun fall activities for every region – get out there & enjoy it!
Julie took this photo a few days ago near Marquette and writes “The old CR-510 bridge crosses the Dead River west of Marquette in the Upper Peninsula . It was erected in 1921 and carried traffic over the river until 2010 when a new bridge was built. The new bridge stands high above the river and has a spectacular view of the old one. One needs to Google this bridge and read its phenomenal history. (she’s right! I did and it looks like this bridge might have started its bridging in Pennsylvania!!)
