Canada Announces Border Improvements To Speed Up Traffic

The Canadian government has announced $80 million (CAN) worth of improvements to three border crossings.

The announcements follow through on commitments in the Beyond the Border Action Plan announced by Prime Minister Stephen Harper and President Barack Obama in December 2011. Canadian officials say the projects will provide increased capacity for commercial traffic and will minimize border wait times, while at the same time strengthening security.

The Lansdowne Border Crossing, located at the Canadian side of the Thousand Islands Bridge, over the St. Lawrence river, connecting northern New York and southeastern Ontario, will get the lion’s share, up to (CAN) $60 million. It operates 24 hours per day, seven days per week and is described by the Canadian government as a critical Canada-U.S. border crossing with over $14 billion in two-way trade in 2012. It connects with I-81 in the U.S. and Highway 137, leading to the busy Highway 401 in Canada.

The Emerson Crossing will get up to (CAN) $10 million. It’s located south of Winnipeg, along the Red River, just north of where Manitoba province and Minnesota and North Dakota meet. It operates 24 hours per day, seven days per week and is the main Canada-U.S. border crossing in Manitoba with almost $19 billion in two-way trade in 2012.

Also getting up to (CAN) $10 million will be the North Portal Border Crossing. Located across from North Dakota and U.S.53, this is the main Canada-U.S. border crossing in Saskatchewan along Highway 39, with almost (CAN) $12 billion in two-way trade in 2012.

Learn more about cross-border trucking in HDT's March feature on Transborder Trucking.