The Gordie Howe Bridge Opens

Yeah, so, you know, the existing Ambassador Bridge, and again, I mean, let's celebrate the Ambassador Bridge. Let's hope the Ambassador Bridge continues to exist, you know, for some time going into the future. But, you know, there were roughly 12 stoplights between the major freeway in Canada, the 401, 402. By the time you get to the bridge, the custom plazas on both sides are very small because they were built almost a... century ago. So when you think about the truck idling time, when you think about the exhaust, the diesel exhaust on both sides of the border as trucks wait to clear customs, pay their tolls, get on the bridge, which is, you know, quite narrow, you know, and compare that to what we're going to be getting. today with the Gordy Howe Bridge, which is much faster, much more efficient. I mean, I think it's like a four-x number of toll booths and customs booths that will be available on both sides. It's just going to make it so much easier, so much better for, you know, the great people who drive our trucks. It'll be so much better for manufacturers on both sides who really rely. on that just-in-time delivery. So it really will have an impact on supply chain resilience and in manufacturing. This is the bridge they're going to want to come in on. Well, I mean, again, having options is good, right? You know, the Ambassador Bridge and the Blue Water Bridge are still very definitely going to get used, but the congestion on those bridges will be dramatically reduced because we now have this new, modern, efficient option. Talk a little bit about the... It's almost tourism, but the people coming back and forth across in the cities and the impact that it has when these bridges are open and moving well and people are coming back and forth. Right now, Canada seems a little hesitant to come over, you know, still having this little riff with Donald Trump a little bit. How important is that back and forth to these local economies? So, Kevin, you're exactly right. It's a great question. I'll be honest. I kind of view the riff that is occurring between the United States and Canada as a little bit like, you know, a college boyfriend and girlfriend that broke up during the summer, but they're going to get back together in the fall. I mean, you know, we are so close. We are so culturally similar. We have had, you know, almost two centuries of the closest of close partnerships, friendships, economic ties. This will resolve itself. I mean, obviously no one likes where we are right now in the trade relationship and the kind of cultural tensions between the United States and Canada, but this two shall pass.

Yeah, right? If you look out 10 years from now, we'll be in a different time, a different world, different things going on. But that bridge is going to be there doing what it was projected to do when it was first, you know, thought of. Right. When, you know, Governor Rick Snyder, obviously our former Republican governor here in Michigan, and then Prime Minister Harper from Canada negotiated this final deal, it was all about making our shared region, particularly our manufacturing and automotive region, more globally competitive. And that's what this bridge does. It makes us more globally competitive. So. You think that the bridge could help attract more business to southeast Michigan along with making travel easier and less congested? No doubt on both points. You nailed it. That's awesome. That's very, very cool. How much of our economy actually depends on trade with Canada? It's a pretty big number, right? Yeah, so the exact number I don't know, but I know this. Canada is our most... important and largest trading partner full stop. If, you know, the ability for our businesses to trade with Canada, our business's ability to import friendly parts, safe parts from Canada is completely, you know, is, I got that wrong. It is absolutely critical to our economy here in Michigan and across the United States, but particularly in Michigan. I am typically a tunnel person. I don't know why I just really enjoy the idea of driving underneath the Detroit River. It seems cool to me. But I'm really excited about this opportunity to walk or ride a bike across the Gordy Howe Bridge. I think that's going to be a pretty big deal. What do you think? Do you think a lot of people will do that? Oh, well, listen, I mean, especially with the great work of the Detroit Riverfront Conservancy and the Ralph Wilson Jr. Park, you know, that is, you know, that is absolutely spectacular. What Ford is doing with Michigan Central and the Greenway out to the water, it is going to be so great and, frankly, easy to be able to walk or ride your bike to the new bridge. The new bridge will allow people to walk. I think it's going to be free starting August 5th. Right. So just make sure you bring your enhanced driver's license or your passport. Yeah. And you'll be able to walk to Canada. In fact, our team's going to do that next, the first week that it's open, we're going to be one of the first groups of people.

I love that. And Windsor has a great riverfront, too. So you can walk the riverfront, come across, walk ours. We can go back and forth and enjoy both of them. And, boy, that riverfront project has just been a game changer for Detroit. Sandy Bruja, President Sealed, Detroit Regional Chamber. Thank you for your time. I really appreciate it. Appreciate being on the show, Kevin. Yeah, it's an exciting day. Forget about the politics. Just enjoy the bridge opening, which Sandy is 99% sure is going to happen at noon today. Let's hope so. It's all talk. I'm Kevin Deez.