Gordie Howe Bridge Now Open: Why Huron Church Road Is Still Packed With Trucks

The Gordie Howe International Bridge is now open between Windsor, Ontario, and Detroit, Michigan, but its effect on local truck congestion will take time. Vehicles began using the C$6.4-billion crossing on Monday, July 27, 2026, creating a new six-lane alternative to the Ambassador Bridge and Detroit–Windsor Tunnel.

Approximately 7,500 vehicles crossed during the first 12 hours, according to the Windsor-Detroit Bridge Authority. Despite that early use, trucks continued to crowd Huron Church Road in the days after the opening.

Why Huron Church Road Is Still Busy

Huron Church Road remains the main approach to the Ambassador Bridge, a crossing trucking companies have used for decades. CBC News reported on July 31 that people working and shopping along the corridor had noticed either little difference or only a modest reduction in commercial traffic.

Lak Shoan, director of policy for the Canadian Trucking Alliance, said companies were not expected to change established routes immediately. Uncertainty before the opening led some fleet operators to postpone the administrative and technical work needed to use the new crossing regularly.

Carriers must create business toll accounts, update customs information, adjust dispatch systems and familiarize drivers with new approach roads and inspection facilities. Completing those changes across a large fleet can take weeks.

When Could Truck Traffic Begin to Shift?

The Canadian Trucking Alliance expects clearer patterns to emerge over the coming weeks and possibly several months. Companies will compare reliability, journey time, toll prices and customer requirements before choosing a crossing for each trip.

Ward 2 Coun. Frazier Fathers expects a gradual transition through the summer and into the fall. Windsor may conduct formal truck counts to measure how commercial vehicles are being divided between the two routes.

Huron Church Road is unlikely to become truck-free. The Ambassador Bridge remains open, and some carriers may continue using it because of existing accounts, operating relationships or the location of their final destination.

Gordie Howe Bridge Toll Prices

Most passenger vehicles pay a standard one-way toll of C$8 or US$5.75. Customers registered with the Breakaway electronic toll program receive a 25% discount, reducing the price to C$6 or US$4.35.

Commercial trucks, buses and vehicles higher than 2.3 metres are generally charged by axle. The published standard rate is C$12 per axle, compared with C$9.60 per axle for eligible Breakaway customers. Extra conditions or charges may apply to oversized and hazardous loads.

Cash, Card and Digital Payments

Canadian and U.S. cash is accepted at attended booths. Credit cards, debit cards and supported digital wallets can be used in electronic-payment and attended lanes. Overhead signs identify the vehicle types and payment methods accepted in each lane.

How the New Route Changes Border Travel

The crossing connects Ontario’s Highway 401 directly with Michigan’s Interstate 75. Trucks using this route can avoid the central Windsor approach required to reach the Ambassador Bridge, which could gradually reduce pressure on Huron Church Road.

Additional capacity gives freight operators another option when congestion or an incident affects an existing crossing. Customs inspections, severe weather and unexpected U.S.–Canada border access disruptions can still influence journey times.

Temporary construction restrictions can create different traffic problems, as demonstrated by the scheduled Hillsborough Bridge lane closures and traffic plan.

Walking and Cycling Path Opens August 5

The toll-free multi-use path is scheduled to open at 8 a.m. ET on Wednesday, August 5, 2026. Pedestrians and cyclists must still clear customs and carry an approved document for crossing the international border.

What Travellers Should Check

Motorists should compare current conditions at both bridges rather than assuming the newest route will always be faster. The best option may vary according to congestion, toll arrangements, customs processing and destination.

Current toll rates, payment details, directions and operating notices are available through the official Gordie Howe International Bridge website.