Ambassador Bridge

Ambassador Bridge: The Vital Link in North American Trade

Spanning the Detroit River between Windsor, Ontario and Detroit, Michigan, the Ambassador Bridge stands as a powerful symbol of the deep economic ties and friendship between Canada and the United States.

Completed in 1929, this iconic suspension bridge quickly became a crucial artery for trade between our two nations. Today, the Ambassador Bridge is the busiest international border crossing in North America in terms of trade volume, carrying more than 25% of all merchandise trade between the United States and Canada by value.

The auto industry in particular has benefited tremendously from this connection. Parts and vehicles may cross the border multiple times during production, with integrated supply chains creating a seamless manufacturing ecosystem that spans both countries. A vehicle assembled in either country typically contains components from both nations, making it truly a North American product.

Every day, approximately 8,000 trucks and over 40,000 commuters, tourists, and truck drivers cross this bridge, facilitating about $390 million CAD in daily trade. More than 2.5 million trucks cross annually, carrying automotive components, agricultural products, manufactured goods, and other essential items between our countries.

The bridge has been so crucial to our shared prosperity that when congestion became an issue, both countries recognized the need for additional capacity. This led to plans for the Gordie Howe International Bridge, currently under construction, which will provide a second vital link between Windsor and Detroit.

The importance of the Ambassador Bridge was dramatically highlighted during the COVID-19 pandemic and during brief blockades in 2022, when disruptions to this crossing had immediate economic impacts on both sides of the border. These events served as stark reminders of how deeply interconnected our economies have become.

As both nations implement new trade policies, the Ambassador Bridge reminds us of our long history of economic cooperation and mutual benefit. The prosperity of border communities like Windsor and Detroit depends on the free flow of goods and services across this vital connection, just as our national economies benefit from our strong trading relationship.

The Ambassador Bridge, beyond its practical role as a transportation link, has facilitated trade and cooperation between Canada and the United States, benefiting citizens on both sides of the border for nearly a century.