The Canada Border Services Agency announced the start of work to modernize the Saint-Bernard-de-Lacolle (QC) border crossing.
This project will result in the deconstruction of aging buildings and infrastructure, as well as the construction of new passenger processing facilities.
Existing buildings will remain in service during construction. However, the first phase of the project, which is currently underway, requires that bus passenger processing operations be relocated to another building on the site.
In addition, vehicles of non-standard dimensions (greater than five metres in height) can no longer enter Canada through this port of entry and are currently directed to adjacent ports of entry.
The infrastructure project represents an investment of $100 million in construction contracts over the next three years that will improve traffic flow at Quebec's busiest port of entry
The Saint-Bernard-de-Lacolle border crossing is the main gateway for trade and travel between New York and Montreal. Every year, more than 2 million travellers and almost 300,000 commercial vehicles pass through this port of entry. It includes buildings built between 1951 and 2016. Much of the port's infrastructure has reached the end of its life cycle and requires significant upgrades.