Quebec border crossing to receive $100M makeover to improve traffic flow, security

The Saint-Bernard-de-Lacolle border crossing in southern Quebec will undergo some major renovations over the next three years.

The makeover seeks to improve security, traffic flow and upgrade technology systems, as much of the infrastructure has reached the end of its life cycle, the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) said in a news release Thursday.

While the $100-million project will cause some lane closures, the CBSA says construction won't obstruct traffic during peak travel seasons, like in the summer.

"We're renewing the infrastructure and we're adapting into the new reality," said the director of the Montérégie border district, Maxime Jenkins-Lagueux.

"We're beefing up our capacity in terms of law enforcement, we're giving modern infrastructure to our officers, for example, [a] tertiary garage to do a move in-depth inspection of the vehicle," he said.

There's currently no garage at the border crossing. Jenkins-Lagueux says the new garage will be equipped with new detection technology. 

WATCH | A look at the plans for the border: 

Why one of Canada’s busiest border crossings is getting a makeover

11 hours ago

Duration 2:19

The Saint-Bernard-de-Lacolle crossing in southern Quebec hasn’t had major work since 1996. The overhaul is designed to improve security and the flow of traffic, but the project is not related to pressure to beef up border security in response to U.S. tariffs.

The project is also part of the agency's commitment to modernize and reinforce the land border with the United States, though Jenkins-Lagueux says it has been in the works since before the current political context, since much of the infrastructure is outdated.

The last major update to the facility was done in 1996, according to CBSA regional director general for the Quebec region, Éric Lapierre.

The crossing is the main gateway for trade and travel between New York and Montreal, with more than two million travellers passing through every year.

Existing buildings will remain in service during construction. But, as the first phase of the project gets underway, 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 border crossings.