The Gordie Howe International Bridge saw 343,507 vehicle crossings in August, its first full month of operation, nearly matching the Ambassador Bridge's 345,445 crossings. However, while passenger vehicles dominate traffic at the new bridge with nearly 270,000 crossings, trucks are still primarily using the Ambassador Bridge, crossing around 150,000 times compared to about 74,000 at Gordie Howe.
Written by the local model on 2026-09-17,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
In its first full month of operation in August, the Gordie Howe International Bridge connecting Windsor, Ont., and Detroit saw over 340,000 vehicle crossings. Specifically, there were 343,507 crossings, which was nearly identical to the Ambassador Bridge's traffic of 345,445 vehicles for the same period. However, the nature of the traffic differed: at the Gordie Howe bridge, approximately 270,000 were passenger cars and about 74,000 trucks, whereas on the Ambassador Bridge, around 150,000 were trucks and roughly 196,000 were cars. Despite this new traffic pattern, experts like Jason Miller from Michigan State University suggest that many trucking companies are still using the Ambassador Bridge due to toll price contracts with the bridge authority. The Windsor-Detroit Tunnel had slightly lower passenger vehicle volume at about 280,000 crossings in August.
Written for “Gordie Howe Bridge Traffic” on 2026-09-17,
grounded in this article and the 0 other(s) covering the same event.
Gordie Howe bridge vehicle traffic tops 340,000 in first full month of operation
New bridge traffic was nearly on par with nearby Ambassador Bridge
Traffic at the new Gordie Howe International Bridge connecting Windsor, Ont., and Detroit topped 340,000 in its first full month of operation, according to new data.
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Detroit → top → data
There were 343,507 crossings at the bridge in August, the first full month it was open, per fresh figures from the Bridge and Tunnel Operators Association.
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it → be → Association
It was nearly the same as traffic at the nearby Ambassador Bridge, which saw 345,445 crossings last month.
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which → see → crossings
But the composition of the traffic on the competing spans was different.
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composition → compete → spans
At the Ambassador, truck traffic was around 150,000, compared to 196,000 passenger cars.
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traffic → compare → cars
- Exclusive
Ambassador Bridge 'aggressively' pursued trucking clients amid Gordie Howe delay: industry rep
New bridge, same traffic: Why is the road to the Ambassador Bridge still packed with trucks?
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Bridge → pursue → trucks
Jason Miller, a supply chain management professor at Michigan State University, says he believes many trucking companies have toll price contracts with the Ambassador Bridge.
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companies → say → Bridge
So what's happening is they are probably locked in for this year," he told Windsor Morning on Wednesday.
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he → happen → Wednesday
"So it does not make as much sense for them to shift trucks over to Gordie Howe until they would have some type of renegotiated contract or they themselves have a contractual price with Gordie Howe."
The Windsor-Detroit Tunnel still had the highest volume of passenger vehicles, with approximately 280,000 crossings in August.
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Tunnel → make → August
StatsCan data offers different look
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data → offer → look
Recently released numbers from Statistics Canada offer a more detailed look at the origin of the people crossing the various ports of entry in the Windsor-Detroit corridor.
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numbers → release → corridor
"In August, the Gordie Howe International Bridge was used for 134,900 Canadian-resident return trips from the United States by automobile, 56.7 per cent of which were same-day," the federal agency said Friday.
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agency → use → which
"It was also used as a port of entry for 101,000 US-resident trips to Canada by automobile, 52.2 per cent of which were same-day.
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cent → use → which
During the same period, 348,000 Canadian and US residents entered Canada by automobile at Windsor's Ambassador Bridge and the Windsor-Detroit Tunnel, down 35.4 per cent from August 2025."
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residents → enter → August
The agency also said that 34,800 commercial transport trucks entered Canada using the Gordie Howe Bridge last month.
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trucks → say → Bridge
"Commercial transport truck entries at Windsor's other ports increased by 0.4 per cent from the same period one year earlier to total 87,400," it added.
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it → increase → 87,400
Miller said traffic volumes at the three crossings are likely to shift in the months ahead as the "novelty effect" of taking the brand new Gordie Howe bridge wears off.
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effect → say → bridge
In any case, he said the traffic volumes at the new span being nearly as high as those at the Ambassador Bridge show "the need for that second crossing.
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being → say → crossing
Some pedal-assist e-bikes are now allowed on the Gordie Howe Bridge.
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bikes → allow → Bridge
Here's what this means for cyclists
- Video
The CBC's Emma Loop crosses the Gordie Howe International Bridge on foot
"What I'm really curious to see is if there's any information [to] come out about the wait times at either bridge, because that that to me is the most important thing beyond just the crossings, is just that smoother flow of commerce," he added.
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he → mean → commerce
The Aporia
