For more than 20 years, the Chamber has advocated for a third border crossing between Detroit and Windsor to support one of the world’s largest trade partnerships and drive economic growth. Leveraging one of the most respected advocacy programs in Michigan, the Chamber has led efforts to approve, build, and open the Gordie Howe International Bridge, a generational infrastructure project that will positively impact the region, state, and country for decades to come.
Dating back to the late 90’s, the Chamber led the business community’s push to highlight the need for a new Detroit-Windsor border crossing and the economic benefits of the project.
“This new crossing has been the Chamber’s top infrastructure priority for years, and we put everything we had into making it a reality. This critical infrastructure is a game-changer and will drive economic growth in Michigan for decades to come.”
– Sandy K. Baruah, President and Chief Executive Officer, Detroit Regional Chamber
“Gov. Snyder stuck his neck out for this project. He kept running into obstacles in the legislature, and it took a lot of political courage to push for the new bridge. It would have been easier to just walk away and point the finger at the legislature.”
– Brad Williams, former Vice President of Government Affairs
With more than 200 million people and approximately $500 billion in goods moving across the Canadian-U.S. border annually, maintaining that flow had been a long-standing Chamber priority since the early 2000s.
Take a look below to see the new bridge’s impact in numbers.
The Chamber’s December 2025 Detroiter Magazine highlights the importance of U.S.- Canada trade and its disproportionate impact of fluctuating trade policy on Michigan and provides insights on the best way to build on the interconnected Detroit-Windsor Region to boost economic growth and advance Michigan’s key industries.
