Motorists looking to enter Canada from the U.S. at the North Portal border crossing have been experiencing delays this week.
The Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) advised travellers on Monday that construction-related delays were expected at the North Portal border crossing for approximately 72 hours, starting at 8 a.m. on Tuesday.
“As part of the construction project at North Portal, crews will be replacing a sewer line that runs underneath Highway 39 northbound this week, just past the CBSA primary inspection compound,” said Luke Reimer, a spokesperson with CBSA’s Prairie region.
They will also be working on a road water drain line.
“The work to be completed would block Canada-bound traffic from proceeding north after clearing CBSA processing,” said Reimer. “Therefore, from the CBSA building past the North Portal Duty Free – it’s a stretch of about 230 metres – both northbound and southbound traffic will be sharing the two highway lanes normally reserved for southbound traffic.”
A flag person will be present to direct traffic at all times.
An expansion and renovation project is underway at the North Portal border crossing that is expected to take 18-30 months.
“It’s an important project that’s going to increase the … capacity of the port of entry by adding a third processing lane, constructing a new and taller canopy, staggering three bi-level primary inspection booths on highway to better streamline traffic flow, and of course, improving our commercial facility. We’re renovating and expanding the commercial warehouse.”
Travellers entering Canada by car or other light vehicle were asked to consider the Northgate border crossing to the east of North Portal, and the Estevan border crossing to the west.
Both ports of entry are open from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily.
