Canadian police cleared protesters and vehicles in Windsor, Ontario, that had blocked a vital trade route along the border with the United States, with some arrests, but the bridge was not yet open to traffic on Sunday.
"Canadian authorities intend to reopen the Ambassador Bridge today after completing necessary safety checks," White House Homeland Security adviser Liz Sherwood-Randall said in a statement from Washington.
But more turbulence near the bridge lingered into Sunday afternoon. Windsor police reported the protests were continuing on a nearby street and arrests were being made.
"Enforcement is continuing as demonstrators are now on Tecumseh Road West in between Northway and Huron Church Road," the police said in a tweet at 2:33 p.m. EST. "There will be zero tolerance for illegal activity. The public should avoid the area. Multiple arrests have been made in this area."
The earlier arrests on Sunday came after a tense standoff between Canadian police and demonstrators since Friday when a court order and threats of arrest failed to end the blockade of the Ambassador Bridge, which entered its sixth day.
Windsor Mayor Drew Dilkens in a statement Sunday morning declared the blockade over, but didn't say when the bridge would reopen.
"Today, our national economic crisis at the Ambassador bridge came to an end. Border crossings will reopen when it is safe to do so and I defer to police and border agencies to make that determination," Dilkens said. "Illegal acts, blockades and hate speech must not be tolerated and should be denounced.
"As Mayor of Windsor, I strongly urge all Provincial and Federal leaders to refrain from any divisive political rhetoric and redouble efforts to help all Canadians heal, as we emerge from almost two years of pandemic lockdowns and restrictions."
At a press conference Sunday, Windsor Police Sgt. Steve Betteridge said authorities hoped to reopen city access routes "later today." But he could not say when the Ambassador Bridge would reopen; he said that decision would be left to border authorities.
About 12 people were arrested and charged under the Criminal Code, he said, adding that there were no injuries either to protesters or police.
He said the number of protesters ranged from 100 to 600 over the week-long demonstration.
Betteridge said police would continue to monitor the area but would not elaborate on plans to prevent further disruptions.
"I'm not going to get into our operational plans right now, but our job is to keep the peace and enforce the law."
The police also issued a statement defending how they handled the protests and the arrests.
"Police used discretion during the course of the demonstration to avoid creating an unstable situation and potentially putting the public at risk," the Sunday statement said. "This exercising of police discretion should not be confused with lack of enforcement."
Windsor police said in a tweet Sunday at 8:14 a.m. EST that "enforcement actions continue" and "arrests being made."