Dozens of cars backed up at the U.S. entrance Monday night, the first operational snag after the Gordie Howe International Bridge opened to traffic.
A border officer told WXYZ off camera that officers had gone home for the evening, closing some lanes and funneling returning drivers into a single gate after the bridge crossing itself moved smoothly.
Earlier Monday, Northville driver Bill Grabowski said he became the first U.S. citizen to cross at 10:28 a.m. and estimated the new route could cut 7 to 8 minutes from his regular trips to Ontario.
The $4.5 billion Detroit-Windsor span links Highway 401 with Interstate 75 and is expected to ease truck congestion tied to the older Ambassador Bridge.
Will the Gordie Howe Bridge finally break the Detroit-Windsor truck bottleneck, or will customs delays and old habits keep freight on the Ambassador Bridge?
Canada spent $6.4 billion on this new border crossing—but how soon will lower tolls, faster trade, and tourism pay off?