Ongoing protests against COVID-19 vaccine mandates in Canada blocked traffic at Ambassador Bridge between Detroit and Windsor, Canada, on Monday evening.
Protesters prevented motorists from passing over the bridge and eventually closed the span, according to a report by the Detroit Free Press. The Michigan Department of Transportation reportedly advised motorists to use a tunnel or take an alternate bridge to Canada instead.
Gregg Ward, president of a ferry service between Detroit and Windsor, told the Free Press that the last time he remembers the bridge being shut down was in 1990 due to an independent trucker protest.
Ward said the auto industry business will be particularly impacted by the bridge’s closure but that many businesses also depend on it to transport their goods for international trade.
“They usually get [their goods] just on time. It all depends on how much inventory they had, and if they anticipated this,” Ward said. “I know there was an expected slowdown. I would bet most people didn’t think there would be a complete closure.”
On Monday, multiple people were arrested over the “Freedom Convoy” protests and 500 citations were issued to demonstrators.
Ottawa declared a state of emergency because of the protests on Sunday as thousands of people gathered to demonstrate against vaccine mandates.
The Canadian Trucking Alliance condemned the actions of protesters during the event, calling the demonstration a “disgusting act.”