A transport truck trying to get on the Ambassador Bridge last month accidently drove onto the Gordie Howe International Bridge, which will not open until early 2026, from the U.S. side, Canada’s border agency confirmed Wednesday, Oct. 22.
The truck was stopped on Sept. 29 by Canadian border services officers before it got to the Canadian port of entry, but would never have been able to enter Canada because of “multiple security barriers including extensive fencing to prevent people from erroneously crossing,” Canada Border Services Agency spokesperson Luke Reimer said in an email.
No one was hurt during the incident and no guns were drawn by Canadian border services officers, Reimer wrote.
“The actions taken by CBSA officers demonstrate the integrity of the security measures and of the infrastructure as well as the established oversight,” he wrote.
The Windsor-Detroit Bridge Authority confirmed that the lost driver arrived at the bridge “project site” and initially received direction from Bridging North America security personnel about how to get back to the Ambassador Bridge. The driver was still confused “given the size and complexity of the construction site,” and ultimately had to be intercepted and redirected on the bridge by Canadian border officials.
The Gordie Howe International Bridge “remains closed to traffic” and the Windsor-Detroit Bridge Authority has verified that all signs and GPS systems indicate the closure, wrote Windsor-Detroit Bridge Authority spokesperson Tara Carson.
The Windsor-Detroit Bridge Authority did not immediately respond to a Free Press follow-up inquiry about the presence of physical blockades to block incoming traffic at the Gordie Howe International Bridge.
Though construction on the Gordie Howe International Bridge is nearly done, officials at the Windsor-Detroit Bridge Authority said its opening has been delayed to early 2026 to complete “ongoing quality reviews, testing and commissioning,” and to have enough time to prepare border agencies to manage the new crossing, the Free Press previously reported. Once open, the bridge will link Detroit and Windsor.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Truck accidentally drives onto closed Gordie Howe International Bridge from U.S. side
Reporting by Beki San Martin, Detroit Free Press / Detroit Free Press
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
