Travellers warned of holiday border delays
Do you have plans to cross the border this weekend? On your way home, be prepared for possible crowds due to construction at one of five Lower Mainland border crossings.
Ongoing construction at the Peace Arch crossing near Blaine (Douglas) has reduced the usual number of lanes from 10 to six. Five of those lanes will be for general traffic, while one will be for NEXUS pass holders.
The Canada Border Services Agency is recommending travellers use alternate points of entry if possible, such as Pacific Highway, Aldergrove or Abbotsford-Huntingdon.
The closest alternative crossing to Peace Arch is the Pacific Highway crossing, which can be accessed northbound via exit 275 on Interstate 5. The Aldergrove crossing is just a 20-minute drive to the east via H Street Road.
During Easter long weekend in 2017, more than 80,616 cars and 166,542 travellers were collectively processed through five Lower Mainland border crossings.
To check on border wait times, download the CanBorder app or check the CBSA website.
The five crossings include:
• Abbotsford-Huntingdon (Sumas)
• Aldergrove (Lynden)
• Pacific Highway (Blaine)
• Douglas (Peace Arch, Blaine)
• Boundary Bay (Point Roberts) To make border crossings smoother, travellers are reminded to:
• Plan ahead. Allow for an early departure or for additional time crossing the border.
• Be prepared. Have travel documents handy along with receipts for out-of-country purchases and declarations.
• Declare all purchases and gifts. Ensure gifts are not wrapped to avoid unnecessary delays during inspection.
• Know your exemption limits. (No exemptions for trips shorter than 24 hours. Exemptions for longer trips can be found online.)
• Know what’s in your vehicle and what items are prohibited from being brought across the border.