The Gordie Howe International Bridge is jointly owned by the Government of Canada and the State of Michigan as a public asset of both countries. Canada paid for the entire project and runs daily operations through a federal Crown corporation, the Windsor-Detroit Bridge Authority (WDBA), but Michigan holds a joint ownership interest in the structure itself under a binational agreement signed in 2012.
The Canada-Michigan Crossing Agreement
Joint ownership rests on the Canada-Michigan Crossing Agreement, signed on June 15, 2012. That agreement set out each side’s roles and responsibilities and established the bridge as publicly owned by both Canada and Michigan.1CTV News. Fact Check – Canada Paid for Gordie Howe Bridge, but Doesnt Own It Alone Canada took on the funding and operational duties; Michigan kept an ownership stake without contributing cash to construction.
To make the arrangement work for Michigan politically and financially, Canada committed to ensuring the project met U.S. federal-aid eligibility requirements. That let Michigan qualify for up to US$2.2 billion in federal highway matching funds to spend on other state transportation projects, so Michigan got a share of ownership and a federal funding benefit without putting state money into the bridge.
What the Windsor-Detroit Bridge Authority Does
WDBA is a not-for-profit Crown corporation wholly owned by the Government of Canada. It reports to Parliament through the Minister of Infrastructure and Communities but operates independently, structured more like a private company than a government department.2Housing, Infrastructure and Communities Canada. Housing, Infrastructure and Communities Canada and the Windsor-Detroit Bridge Authority Its legal foundation is the Bridge to Strengthen Trade Act, which authorizes it to construct and operate a bridge across the Detroit River between Windsor, Ontario, and Detroit, Michigan.3Justice Laws Website. Bridge To Strengthen Trade Act
WDBA oversees procurement, supervises construction, sets toll rates, and manages the crossing for its entire operational life.4Federal Highway Administration. Project Profile – Gordie Howe International Bridge So while Michigan is a co-owner of the bridge, it is WDBA, not the state, that handles day-to-day control on the Canadian side and across the span itself.
Who Paid for the Bridge
Canada is funding the entire project. The original contract price was CA$5.7 billion, later increased by amendment to CA$6.4 billion.5Gordie Howe International Bridge. Annual Report 2024-2025 That figure covers the bridge span, both the Canadian and American ports of entry, the Michigan interchange connecting to I-75, and long-term operations and maintenance.
Canada plans to recover its investment through tolls, and WDBA holds the legal authority to set rates and collect all revenue from the crossing.4Federal Highway Administration. Project Profile – Gordie Howe International Bridge No American tax dollars went toward construction. The practical result: Michigan is a co-owner, but the money flowing across the bridge flows to the Canadian side.
Who Controls the Border Crossings
Joint ownership of the span does not blur sovereign control over the land and customs facilities. Each country controls its own port of entry. The Michigan Department of Transportation is the underlying property owner for the U.S. port of entry site in southwest Detroit.
A January 2026 Federal Register notice formally established the Gordie Howe International Bridge as a U.S. port of entry in Detroit, with U.S. Customs and Border Protection operating the American plaza. The Canada Border Services Agency manages the Canadian side. Each agency enforces its own country’s laws on immigration, trade, and security within its designated zone.
Who Built It and Who Maintains It
WDBA contracted with a consortium called Bridging North America to design, build, finance, operate, and maintain the bridge under a 36-year agreement.6Gordie Howe International Bridge. Bridging North America4Federal Highway Administration. Project Profile – Gordie Howe International Bridge The consortium includes ACS Infrastructure Canada, Fluor Canada, and Aecon Concessions.
The arrangement is an availability-payment concession. WDBA keeps ownership and toll revenue. Bridging North America receives scheduled payments for meeting defined performance standards covering safety, structural integrity, and operational benchmarks, with payments docked for shortfalls. A formal project agreement between WDBA and Bridging North America, signed in September 2018, governs the entire arrangement.7Gordie Howe International Bridge. Gordie Howe International Bridge Project Agreement The consortium is the builder and long-term maintainer under contract, not an owner; ownership stays with Canada and Michigan, and operational authority stays with WDBA.
How the Ownership Picture Fits Together
In short, three layers answer the ownership question. Canada and Michigan jointly own the bridge as a public asset under the 2012 Crossing Agreement. WDBA, a Canadian Crown corporation, holds the legal authority to construct, operate, toll, and manage the crossing on behalf of Canada. Bridging North America is the private partner contracted to deliver and maintain the physical infrastructure for 36 years. The Ambassador Bridge, by contrast, is privately owned by the Moroun family; the Gordie Howe is the public counterpart, which is a large part of why both governments pursued it.8CBC News. What to Know About the Gordie Howe Windsor-Detroit Bridge