Gordie Howe International Bridge

Between Windsor and Detroit, a different kind of connection takes shape

photo of Dr. Lee Rodney standing in front of the new Gordie Howe BridgeUniversity of Windsor professor Lee Rodney stands near the Gordie Howe International Bridge in Windsor, Ont., a project she says could reshape cross-border identity between Windsor and Detroit. (PETER MARVAL/University of Windsor)

 

By Victor Romao

The Gordie Howe International Bridge is rising at a time when the line between Windsor and Detroit can feel more fixed than fluid.

Tighter border controls, post-pandemic disruptions and political friction between Canada and the United States have made that divide more visible in recent years.

For decades, the Detroit River has been less a barrier than a seam, stitching together two cities whose economies, cultures and daily rhythms have long overlapped.