Town & County News

Gordie Howe International Bridge Joins The Trans Canada Trail

First-of-its-kind partnership will connect Windsor’s Great Lakes Waterfront Trail to the Iron Belle Trail and Great Lakes Way in Detroit, Michigan

On Friday, February 9, 2024, Windsor-Detroit Bridge Authority and Trans Canada Trail proudly announced that the Gordie Howe International Bridge will join the Trans Canada Trail and become the first international bridge border crossing within the 28,000 km trail network. The official announcement took place this morning at Windsor City Hall.

The Gordie Howe International Bridge will link trail networks on both sides of the CanadaUnited States border, connecting the Great Lakes Waterfront Trail (part of the Trans Canada Trail) in Windsor, Ontario to the Iron Belle Trail and the Great Lakes Way in Detroit, Michigan. Trail users will be able to cross the bridge – and make the official border crossing – via a multi-use path.

“This partnership is a significant milestone for the Trans Canada Trail. We’re thrilled to collaborate with Windsor-Detroit Bridge Authority to provide Canadians and visitors with an interconnected and accessible international trail system,” says Eleanor McMahon, President & CEO of Trans Canada Trail.

“As part of the Trans Canada Trail network, the Gordie Howe International Bridge will be a catalyst for recreation, active transportation opportunities, tourism and economic development in both border communities – and beyond.”

The Gordie Howe International Bridge is poised to play an important role in regenerative, cross-border tourism experiences. The active transportation infrastructure on the Gordie Howe International Bridge will act as a gateway to Ontario’s wine regions in Essex County and the Niagara Region, and will also connect tourists and locals to the new Ojibway National Urban Park.

“The Gordie Howe International Bridge is more than a physical connection; it symbolizes a shared commitment for sustainable infrastructure to promote economic development, active transportation, tourism and cultural exchange,” says Charl van Niekerk, CEO of Windsor-Detroit Bridge Authority.

“We are excited about the positive impact this collaboration will have on both sides of the border.”

To support this key community feature, Windsor-Detroit Bridge Authority is undertaking public consultation through April 2024 to help inform future operational plans for the multi-use path.

This collaboration between Trans Canada Trail and Windsor-Detroit Bridge Authority sets the stage for a trail system that transcends borders and promotes unity, tourism and economic prosperity. Today’s announcement builds on the binational trails tourism partnership, announced in 2022, to promote trails as connectors to nature, tourism and cultural attractions.

“We hope that this announcement will inspire other border communities to explore facilitating this kind of active transportation opportunity. Trail-based border crossing is possible and it presents a tremendous opportunity to enhance economic development through trails tourism for communities that embrace it,” says McMahon.

Click here to explore the interactive Trans Canada Trail map.

Click here to complete Gordie Howe International Bridge Multi-Use Path Survey.

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