Gordie Howe Bridge path shifts to reduced winter hours
The multi-use path will operate between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. on weekdays starting November 9, a change driven by lower morning usage.
By Abigail Brooks ·
The Windsor-Detroit Bridge Authority will reduce operating hours for the multi-use path on the Gordie Howe International Bridge starting Monday, November 9. The path will remain open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday. Weekend hours will extend from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. This marks a departure from the summer schedule, which kept the path open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. every day of the week.
The authority cited daylight, seasonal conditions, and actual usage patterns as the reasons for the change. Heather Grondin, the chief relations officer for the bridge authority, stated that foot traffic was lowest between 8 a.m. and 10 a.m. Data from October showed that fewer than four percent of all crossings occurred during that two-hour window. Conversely, the period from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. accounted for nearly 60 percent of total crossings.
Grondin noted that the path has seen high traffic since its opening on August 5. By the end of October, the authority had recorded more than 48,000 crossings. She added that the adjusted hours were coordinated with border agencies on both sides of the border.
The path will remain open throughout the winter months. The authority is contractually obligated to maintain the walkway by clearing snow and ice. Grondin said staff will monitor ice buildup and snow forecasts closely. The authority will provide advance notice if weather conditions force a closure.
User feedback has been positive, with many cyclists and walkers incorporating the route into their regular exercise routines. Grondin reported hearing from individuals who cross the bridge three or four times a week for fitness. She described this consistent usage as a beneficial development that was not initially anticipated.
The shift to winter hours takes effect next week. Users planning to walk or cycle across the bridge should adjust their schedules to fit the new weekday and weekend windows. The authority will continue to manage the path according to the established maintenance contract.
