- Windsor-Detroit Bridge Authority announced toll prices to cross the Gordie Howe International Bridge as it continues testing
- Passenger vehicles will pay $5.75, while commercial and hazardous trucks will pay $8.75
- Companies can sign up for a prepaid toll program for a 25%
The soon-to-open Gordie Howe International Bridge will be the cheapest way for passenger vehicles to cross from Detroit to Windsor, according to new toll rates announced Wednesday.
Small and medium-sized passenger vehicles and motorcycles will pay a flat rate of $5.75, the Windsor-Detroit Bridge Authority announced.
Larger commercial trucks or hazardous trucks will pay $8.75 per axle, but may be subject to additional fees. Discounts will be available for motorists who choose to add an automatic payment tag to their vehicles.
The new toll rates for the bridge, which will connect Michigan to Canada, are notably cheaper than other options for crossing the Detroit River.
The privately-owned Ambassador Bridge began the year by raising its tolls to $10 for cars, buses and motorcycles, $20 for vehicles with a trailer and $15 to $20 per axle for commercial vehicles. The Detroit-Windsor tunnel costs $9 for passenger vehicles, and between $10 and $44 for commercial trucks, depending on the number of axles.
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The Windsor-Detroit Bridge Authority said the toll announcement — along with the launch of a “Breakaway” electronic payment and discount program — mark another step toward opening the long-awaited international crossing, which is slated to open “this spring.”
“We’ve established a customer-focused toll program that helps travelers and businesses move goods, grow businesses, and cross the border toward their destination with flexibility and convenience,” Chuck Andary, interim chief executive officer for the Windsor-Detroit Bridge Authority, said in a statement.
The Breakaway program announced Wednesday is a new automatic toll program that will provide a 25% discount rate to businesses, commuters or occasional travelers. By adding a tag to their vehicle, users can drive through any open lane and have tolls deducted from prepaid accounts.
Passenger vehicles using the Breakaway program will be eligible for $4.35 tolls. Tolls for larger passenger vehicles would start at $6.90. Companies can sign up now. Accounts for personal users will be available in the coming weeks.
While an opening date has yet to be announced, the Windsor-Detroit Bridge Authority has begun testing traffic management systems, toll systems, border inspection procedures, lighting and communications networks. Wednesday’s announcement continued to tease a spring opening.
“Just as crews are fine-tuning every detail of the project, we’re ensuring a smooth start for all travelers and delivering on our commitment of a modern and efficient border crossing,” said David Henderson, chief executive officer of Bridging North America.
The bridge authority initially aimed to open the crossing in 2025 but later revised its target date to early 2026.
In February, President Donald Trump threatened to block the opening of the bridge amid an ongoing trade war with Canada. In a series of social media posts, Trump argued that Canada is taking advantage of the US and that the US should own at least half of the bridge.
The bridge is the result of a decades-long effort between Michigan, the United States and Canada. In 2012, Michigan and Canada signed the Canada–Michigan Crossing Agreement, under which Canada agreed to fully fund construction — a cost it will recoup through future toll revenues.
Once open, the Gordie Howe International Bridge will become the only crossing that allows pedestrians and cyclists, who will be able to cross freely, without paying any tolls, from Detroit to Windsor.
This article first appeared on Bridge Michigan and is republished here under a Creative Commons Attribution-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.