On Wednesday, August 5, 2026, six members of Washtenaw County Rotary Clubs laced up their walking shoes and made history — stepping onto the Gordie Howe International Bridge (GHIB) for its very first day open to pedestrians and cyclists.

The long-anticipated multi-use path officially opened that morning, offering a rare opportunity to walk or bike across the Detroit River between the U.S. and Canada. As we gathered at the entrance, the excitement was palpable. Flags waved, reporters reported, cameras clicked, helicopters circled, drones hovered, and conversations flowed easily amongst the eager crowd.

Named after Canadian ice hockey player Gordie Howe, whose career included 25 years with the Detroit Red Wings, the Bridge was designed and built by Bridging North America, a consortium of U.S. and Canadian engineering and construction contractors. Its two A-shaped bridge towers, standing 722 feet tall, were designed to resemble hockey sticks when swung for a slapshot. The road deck is the longest main span of any cable-stayed bridge in North America at 2,800 feet and 151 feet above the Detroit River. The total bridge length is 1.6 miles.

For the Rotarians present that day, the walk was much more than a scenic stroll on a beautiful sunny day – it was a celebration of connection, friendship, and goodwill. There were too many high-fives, thumbs-ups, peace signs, and “hellos” between U.S. and Canadian citizens to count – and we had several shout-outs for Rotary from fellow bridge crossers who noticed our Rotary club attire! Rotary Ann Arbor North member  Manish Mehta generated quite a buzz wearing a hat decked out with both U.S. and Canadian flags – his pic even made it into the Detroit Free Press! The Bridge is 1.6 miles long but we hearty Rotarians logged 11,896 steps from car to Canada and back to car that day. So afterwards, we treated ourselves to a festive lunch (and for some of us, a cold Modelo) in nearby Mexicantown.

To learn more about the GHIB, how it came to be and what it means for the U.S. and Canada alike, plan to attend the RCAA luncheon meeting on Wednesday, September 23, 2026. The guest speaker will be Heather Grondin, Chief Relations Office for the Windsor-Detroit Bridge Authority, the Canadian company responsible for the construction and ongoing operation of the Bridge.