The chief executive officer of the Windsor-Detroit Tunnel Corporation has reported a decrease of approximately 12% in traffic since the opening of the Gordie Howe International Bridge to vehicles on July 27, one month ago. CEO Tal Czudner had anticipated a decrease in traffic but not to this extent, as the actual decline is around 12% in passenger vehicle traffic, equivalent to roughly 500 cars per day.
Statistics Canada is set to release the official count of vehicles crossing the border in September. During the first five days of operation, the Gordie Howe bridge saw over 41,000 crossings. The latest figures from the Gordie Howe bridge and the Ambassador Bridge are still pending.
Comparing August 2026 to the previous year, the tunnel recorded 4,676 cars daily compared to 5,425 in August 2025. In July 2026, there were 5,054 cars per day passing through the tunnel, down from 5,240 in July 2025. Czudner stated that people base their route choices on time, cost, and destination, highlighting the tunnel as the most cost-effective route between Windsor and Detroit, especially for downtown destinations.
Czudner expects the current 12% decrease in traffic to lessen to around 7-8% in September. He mentioned that the morning rush hour, typically the busiest time, is now faster, with commute times reduced to approximately 5-10 minutes. The tunnel, jointly owned by the cities of Windsor and Detroit, is feeling the impact of the ongoing trade war, with a noticeable drop in cross-border traffic due to tariffs and trade tensions.
Czudner emphasized that the effects of the trade war may have long-lasting consequences on border crossings, with weekend traffic also experiencing a decline. The tunnel corporation’s financing comes from the municipalities of Windsor and Detroit, and Czudner underlined the broader impact of the trade disputes on border activities for years to come.