The ribbon is finally being cut today on the Gordie Howe International Bridge, the 2.4-kilometre, six-lane span linking Windsor, Ont., and Detroit, Mich. Named after the Canadian hockey legend who became a Detroit icon (during his 25 seasons with the Red Wings), the $6.4-billion cable-stayed bridge was conceived as a symbol of cross-border cooperation – not a monument to the strained relationship between Canada and the U.S. Reflecting those current tensions, today’s ceremony became a Canadian-only affair after U.S. officials were disinvited following President Donald Trump’s latest tariff threats. The bridge also sparked political turbulence at home. Prime Minister Mark Carney was accused by opposition MPs of “misrepresenting” the toll-sharing agreement, initially saying revenues would be split only after Canada had recouped the cost of building the project, which was funded entirely by taxpayers on this side. But after Trump delayed the opening while demanding a bigger cut of the proceeds, it emerged that the U.S. would receive half the toll revenue for the first 15 years – a significant departure from how Carney first described the deal. This bridge was meant to spur commerce and travel between the two countries. Instead, it seems, we’re further apart than ever.  | Getty Images