Traffic shifts to Point Edward: Ambassador Bridge no longer top truck border crossing

The Ambassador Bridge is no longer America’s busiest commercial border crossing, dethroned by Sarnia. CTV Windsor’s Stefanie Masott has the details.

The Ambassador Bridge is no longer North America’s busiest crossing for truck traffic, according to new data from the Bridge and Tunnel Operators Association — marking a major shift for a route long known as a key trade lifeline.

In 2025, the Blue Water Bridge in Point Edward had the largest number of truck crossings, the Bridge and Tunnel Operators Association (BTOA) determined.

The Point Edward crossing recorded more than 2.1 million crossings, compared to the Ambassador Bridge with 1.9 million crossings.

The trend remains the same 2026 with 299,000 crossings at Blue Water Bridge to date, compared to 286,000 crossing at the Ambassador Bridge.

The Federal Bridge Corporation Limited (FBCL) told CTV News that the Blue Water Bridge achieved the number one crossing for commercial traffic title in November 2024, and the trend has continued steadily.

Tolls may have played a factor.

Commercial trucks at the Ambassador Bridge have some of the highest in the region at $27 per axle — almost four times the $7 per axle at Blue Water Bridge.

It doesn’t appear the Ambassador Bridge will make a comeback after the Gordie Howe International Bridge opens.

Once the Gordie Howe opens, tolls will be $12 an axle rate. The opening date of the bridge has not been announced.

“Regarding the upcoming opening of the Gordie Howe International Bridge, the FBCL welcomes it as a vital addition to the regional infrastructure network,” the FBCL wrote in a statement.

“While we have long anticipated a rebalancing of regional traffic patterns due to geography, we fully expect the Blue Water Bridge to retain its fair share of commercial traffic.”

As for passenger crossings, the Windsor-Detroit tunnel holds the top spot with 3.7 million crossing in 2025, followed by the Ambassador Bridge at 3.5 million, and the Blue Water Bridge at 1.6 million crossings.

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