US-Canada bridge reopens

The Ambassador Bridge between Detroit and Windsor, Ontario, reopened at about 11 p.m. Feb. 13 after a blockade by demonstrators protesting COVID-19 restrictions brought international trade at the busiest U.S.-Canadian border bridge to a grinding halt for nearly a week.

The Detroit International Bridge Co. announced the reopening of the border crossing, saying the bridge was "now fully open allowing the free flow of commerce between the Canada and U.S. economies once again."

"This action follows a state of emergency declared in Ontario and an injunction granted by an Ontario judge, which took effect Friday," the statement continued.

Live cameras on the company's website showed green lights on some lanes and traffic flow returning to normal.

The Canada Border Services Agency confirmed the bridge reopening just after midnight. As of 6 a.m. on Feb. 14, there was no delay in traffic flow across the bridge, the agency said.

The Ambassador Bridge between Windsor and Detroit carries about one-quarter of the commercial goods trade between the U.S. and Canada — an estimated $13.5 million an hour.

It's particularly vital to the auto sector, which relies on a supply chain that includes assembly plants and parts makers in Ontario and Quebec. Automakers including General Motors, Ford Motor Co., Stellantis and Toyota Motor Corp. have been forced to curb production this week for lack of parts. An association of auto parts manufacturers was among the parties that applied for the court injunction.

The Canadian Association of Mold Makers and other industry groups worried about the long-term impact of the closure, such as worries that firms on the U.S. side would avoid contracting with Canadian mold makers over concerns of future trade problems.

Canadian police earlier on Feb. 13 cleared protesters and vehicles in Windsor that had blocked the vital trade route along the border with the United States, with about 25-30 arrests reported.

But more turbulence near the bridge lingered throughout the day and into the evening.

"We would like to remind the public that enforcement is continuing in the demonstration area and there will be zero tolerance for illegal activity," the Windsor police said in a statement on Twitter at 8:40 p.m. "The public should avoid the area."

The arrests came after a tense standoff between Canadian police and demonstrators since Feb. 11 when a court order and threats of arrest failed to end the blockade of the Ambassador Bridge, which entered its sixth day.

The police also issued a statement defending how they handled the protests and the arrests.

"Police used discretion during the course of the demonstration to avoid creating an unstable situation and potentially putting the public at risk," the statement said. "This exercising of police discretion should not be confused with lack of enforcement."

Automotive News staff, Crain's Detroit Business, Reuters and Bloomberg contributed to this report.