DETROIT (WWJ) - A group of Canadian truck drivers have now blocked main roads in Windsor, effectively shutting down traffic on both sides of the Ambassador Bridge connecting Canada to Detroit.
Gov. Gretchen Whitmer urged the Canadian government in a press release to end the "economic blockade" that has begun to paralyze Michigan businesses on Thursday morning.
“My message is simple: reopen traffic on the bridge," Whitmer said.
The governor called the Ambassador Bridge the "busiest land border crossing in North America," with hundreds of millions of dollars worth of goods traversing the bridge every day. Whitmer said Michiganders heavily depend on the efficient flow of goods for their businesses and their livelihood.
“The blockade is having a significant impact on Michigan’s working families who are just trying to do their jobs," she said in a press release.
"Our communities and automotive, manufacturing, and agriculture businesses are feeling the effects. It’s hitting paychecks and production lines. That is unacceptable."
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Protestors said on Thursday morning that they will continue to block the main roads to the bridge -- at Huron Church and Wyandotte in Windsor -- until the Canadian government lifts COVID-19 mandates against truckers crossing international boarders.
"We want to be free Canadians," said event organizer Vincent Cease to WWJ's Charlie Langton. "We don't want to be dictated to. We want our freedom of choice."
Cease said their cause goes beyond just truckers --- he protests for all Canadians and their right to choose against being vaccinated or if they want to wear a mask or not.
Under the new Canadian mandates, unvaccinated truckers coming from the U.S. will be subjected to a COVID test and a 14 day quarantine -- the new rule started Jan. 15.
A blockade began forming on Monday across the river in Windsor with truckers parking their 18-wheelers in the road and halting traffic. Inbound commercial vehicles to Canada from Detroit were delayed by hours as truckers got caught in long lines without food and water. The opposite traffic flow from Windsor into the U.S. was not affected until Thursday morning.
The protest -- which Canadians have called the “Freedom Convoy” movement -- has been joined by countless others as demonstrations popped up in major cities across Canada.
"One thing that it's taken for us to come together is the government putting in these mandates," said supporter Virginia Grimaldi to WWJ's Charlie Langton.
"...if that doesn't tell our Premier something, that you've got the entire country united -- finally -- taking a stand on something... then I don't know what more we can do."
The effects are starting to rock Michigan, as General Motors was forced to send workers home Wednesday evening from their Delta plant in Lansing, canceling second shift production entirely. Officials at the plant also called off operations for their first shift employees Thursday morning.
A GM spokesman said the cancellations were due to shortages stemming from protestors blocking goods from crossing at the Ambassador Bridge.
“We are working closely with our logistics providers to mitigate any potential impacts to our production and operations,” Erin Davis, a communications representative with GM said to WLNS on Wednesday.
Detours from the bridge in Detroit caused miles-long backups at the Blue Water Bridge in Port Huron as truckers desperately tried to get through -- the only other options for truckers are to drive almost 350 miles north and get into Canada at the Sault Sainte Marie Border Crossing in the Upper Peninsula or to travel almost 400 miles around through Ohio, Pennsylvania and New York to cross over the Canadian border at Peace Bridge in Buffalo or at Niagara Falls.
The Peace Bridge at New York-Canadian border has already reported delays as trucks made the trek over from Detroit, according to WGRZ in Buffalo.
WWJ's Charlie Langton said the Windsor Tunnel, a second border crossing connecting Detroit to Windsor under the Detroit River, remains open to personal vehicles only -- trucks are not allowed. Langton said protestors did not have current plans to shut down the tunnel.
Bridge officials have no updates on when the Ambassador Bridge will reopen at this time.
This is a developing story. Listen to WWJ live for the most current updates as they become available.