Record-Breaking Bridge Lets You Walk to Canada—If You Don’t Mind Heights
The new pathway can get you from Detroit to Canada in less than an hour on foot and in 20 minutes on a bike.
A new multiuse pathway on the Gordie Howe International Bridge allows people to walk or cycle between the United States and Canada, bypassing tolls and the journey in under an hour. The cable-stayed bridge above the Detroit River was opened on July 27 but the pathway was made available to the public on August 5. It is the longest cable-stayed bridge in North America and the 10th longest in the world.
The bridge's board, designers, engineers, and border agencies worked together to make the bridge. Tensions arose when former US President Donald Trump threatened to halt the bridge's opening in February 2026 unless the US received compensation for what he deemed unfair treatment by Canada. Canadian officials later canceled a joint opening ceremony due to Trump's threat to impose a 50 percent tariff on Canadian goods.
The pathway is designed for a one-way trip of about 20 minutes for cyclists and around 45 minutes for pedestrians, with access being free but initially restricted to maintain safety. The bridge aims to strengthen the ties between the neighboring communities and provide new opportunities for recreation, tourism, and cross-border experiences.
Written by urgent.news from Newsweek's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
