Detroit-Windsor Tunnel, Tunnel in Windsor, Canada
The Detroit-Windsor Tunnel is an underwater road tunnel in Windsor, Canada, that runs beneath the Detroit River to connect Windsor with Detroit in the United States. It is open to cars and certain trucks, though pedestrians, bicycles, and motorcycles are not permitted inside.
Work on the tunnel began in 1928 using new digging techniques, following the example of an earlier railway tunnel already crossing the river. It was completed in six months and opened in 1930 during a ceremony where US President Herbert Hoover turned a symbolic golden key.
The tunnel is used daily by commuters traveling between Windsor and Detroit for work or shopping, making it a routine part of life on both sides of the border. This steady back-and-forth reflects how closely the two cities are linked in everyday life.
A valid passport or equivalent travel document is required to cross, so it is worth having it ready before reaching the booth. Payment inside the tunnel is cashless, so travelers should bring a credit card, debit card, or set up a prepaid account in advance.
The underwater sections of the tunnel were built in dry docks in Canada, welded as steel segments, and then floated into position before being joined together beneath the river. The original construction drawings from the late 1920s are still used today to guide repair and maintenance work.
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