Cut Ribbons, Cut Bike Lanes, Cut Speeding

Well, as we already have been talking in depth on the Patreon-exclusive Fast Track podcast, for anybody who contributes any amount to support the videos at patreon.com.

The biggest transportation story of the year.

And, of course, the politics of it delayed it by about six or seven weeks.

Talking, of course, about the grand opening of the Gordie Howe Bridge between Detroit and Windsor, Ontario, making this second bridge a newer, almost freeway quality way to cross into Canada.

and ending the decades-long stranglehold monopoly of the very narrow Ambassador Bridge.

And it should have been a proud moment between the two countries.

Still was for Canada.

The mile-and-a-half cable-stayed steel bridge across the Detroit River opened to traffic Monday, July 27, 2026.

And a big ceremony.

The Ontario Premier Doug Ford, he was wearing a Team Canada hockey jersey.

Lots of Canadian officials, but no Americans were there and Americans were not invited.

The Associated Press reports Canada had to cancel their original plan of having both countries there for a joint ribbon-cutting ceremony.

But right before the bridge was about to open the second time for realsies, U.S. President Donald Trump announced a 50% tariff on most Canadian goods and You know, Canada is not going to like that.

A spokesperson for Canada's infrastructure minister said it would be, quote, inappropriate to proceed with the celebratory event between the two countries.

All right.

So what's the background? We won't talk tariffs, but the squabble of what delayed the bridge six or seven weeks to begin with.

Canada paid for the bridge.

That's what America and the Canadians agreed to long ago.

All of it.

More than four billion dollars.

Canada wrote the check.

The ownership, though, is shared between the Canadian government and the state of Michigan.

Now, Canada was going to collect tolls first, and all of that money was going to go to Canada, 100% of it, until they had all the construction costs paid off.

Then after that, the revenue would split 50-50 between Canada and Michigan.

But President Trump called Canada out publicly for what he said was a bad deal, said he didn't want Canada getting all the revenue, and he basically held the grand opening hostage.