More than two decades of planning and construction for the $6.4-billion Gordie Howe International Bridge between Detroit and Windsor, Ont., culminated Friday in a ceremony attended by Ontario Premier Doug Ford, some federal ministers and no U.S. representatives.

The ribbon cutting took place at the foot of the bridge, on the Canadian side.

The Canada first ceremony marks the official opening of the bridge, which will happen on Monday. It will be the second bridge crossing between Detroit and Windsor. The nearby privately owned Ambassador Bridge – which has stood for around one hundred years – is the busiest crossing between the U.S. and Canada.

The bridge opening has been mired in uncertainty and controversy since February when U.S. President Donald Trump took to Truth Social to argue that the U.S. should own half of the bridge. Canada paid the full sum for the construction of the bridge and had plans to recoup the costs by taking the full toll revenues. These plans have since changed.

A planned opening of the bridge – scheduled for mid-June – was delayed by the White House after the owner of the Ambassador Bridge spent more than US$1-million on campaign financing and hired a lobbyist firm with connections to the Trump administration, The Globe and Mail reported. To move the bridge opening forward, Canada signed a deal that would share the revenue from the tolls with the U.S.