Construction underway on Gordie Howe Bridge

(WJBK) - "It's always a pleasure to be back in Windsor," said Justin Trudeau. 

Trudeau, the Canadian prime minister, was at the border - breaking ground on the new Gordie Howe International Bridge.

"We were talking with the governor about possibilities of actually accelerating the timelines for this bridge and that's very much how we're focused on getting this done as quickly as we can

Trudeau announced construction could be completed before the projected date of 2024. Construction began this year and is being funded by the Canadian government. They will be paid back over the years through tolls.

The cost is $4.4 billion U.S. dollars.

"This bridge will be incredible," said Gov. Rick Snyder. "It's about jobs in Canada - it's about jobs in Michigan and America.

"Even more importantly it's about longterm jobs and commerce that will go on for generations."

The project hasn't been easy to push through with resistance and legal challenges from the Moroun family, owners of the Ambassador Bridge.

The Windsor-Detroit corridor facilitates almost a quarter of all trade between Canada and the U.S. with approximately 7,000 commercial vehicles crossing here every single day," Trudeau said. "It's vitally important that two way trade at this point runs as effectively and efficiently as possible."

Among the benefits of this new bridge employing 2,500 Canadians and Americans during the building. Process and providing a major impact on trade between the two countries once it's open to traffic.

Trudeau is pleased that he and President Donald Trump just agreed to update the North American Free Trade Agreement earlier this week.

"We know this securing of this most important trade relationship will be good for Canada and good for Canadians right across the country.

"A trade deal that happened on paper moving to a bridge that happens in a concrete way - this is a very good day - this is a very good week and we're very happy to be here."