VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA--(Marketwired - April 14, 2014) - Canada Border Services Agency

The Honourable Steven Blaney, Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness, today announced that Lark Projects Ltd of Surrey, British Columbia has been awarded a $17.7M contract for infrastructure improvements to the Aldergrove port of entry in British Columbia. These investments will include additional Primary Inspection Lanes (PILs), including a dedicated NEXUS lane, a larger traveler processing facility, and a commercial examination warehouse.

Minister Blaney also announced the opening of an additional NEXUS lane at the Pacific Highway port of entry. This new lane will be used to process NEXUS members during high-volume periods and, as regular lanes, at other times. There are now three NEXUS lanes at the Pacific Highway crossing, bringing the total to eight lanes available to NEXUS members in British Columbia. This new lane is another example of how Canada is helping to improve the flow of legitimate travel and trade across the shared Canada-U.S. border in accordance with the Beyond the Border Action Plan.

Quick Facts

- The CBSA has invested over $65M in expanding and modernizing ports of entry in the Cascade Gateway region in the last five years.

- The Aldergrove Redevelopment Project completes the Agency's investments in the Cascade Gateway region for the time being. All other ports of entry have either been replaced or expanded.

- The $17.7M contract was awarded by Public Works and Government Services Canada following a competitive process launched on Buyandsell.gc.ca, the Government of Canada's procurement website.

- Over 21,000 cars and over 2,500 trucks cross through the Cascade Gateway every day, moving over $40M (USD) in daily trade.

- NEXUS members enjoy expedited travel across the Canada-U.S. border at 15 other major land ports of entry as well as eight international airports and approximately 430 marine locations across Canada.

Quotes

"Improvements to CBSA facilities help ensure the free flow of legitimate travel and trade across Canadian borders. Our investment in the Aldergrove border crossing demonstrates the CBSA's ongoing commitment to the safety and prosperity of our country, and will ensure that trade and travel will continue to flow through this important gateway for years to come."

- The Honourable Steven Blaney, Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness

"I'm delighted to learn of the plans for improvements to our Port-of-Entry infrastructure here at Aldergrove. These investments to infrastructure will significantly improve processing of both passenger and commercial vehicles at the border. By encouraging cross-border travel and trade, we promote and support both the Canadian and American economies."

- Mark Warawa, Member of Parliament for Langley, B.C.

"As trucking has grown and expanded into the Fraser Valley, so too has demand for Aldergrove to become a full commercial port. Not only is it a relief valve when other nearby ports become congested, it will play an increasingly important role as development continues eastward. We are extremely pleased that the Government of Canada has listened and responded to our industry's calls for facilities and services that will improve the efficiency of trans-border trucking and support growth in US-Canada trade."

- Louise Yako, President and CEO, BC Trucking Association

"The Greater Langley Chamber of Commerce is very pleased to participate in this very significant announcement concerning the re-development of the Aldergrove Port of Entry. The Aldergrove-Lynden crossing is the second busiest U.S. - Canada commercial crossing in British Columbia. The importance of this crossing will continue to increase as we see the expected growth in population, economic activity in the region and expansion of trade at Port Metro Vancouver. Since 2007 our Chamber, in partnership with our Member of Parliament Mark Warawa, our City and Township of Langley Councils, the BC Trucking Association, the BC Chamber of Commerce, and our counterparts in the City of Surrey, Abbotsford and Washington State, has been communicating the need for redevelopment and increased service capacity at the Aldergrove Port of Entry. We applaud the Minister of Public Safety for recognizing the need for improved infrastructure to facilitate economic growth, improved movement of goods and services, and increased international trade today and into the future."

- Kristine Simpson, President, Greater Langley Chamber of Commerce,

Related Products

- Fact Sheet: Aldergrove Redevelopment Project

- Fact Sheet: NEXUS

Associated Links

- NEXUS

- Beyond the Border Action Plan

Follow us on Twitter (@CanBorder), join us on Facebook or visit our YouTube channel.

Fact Sheet

Aldergrove Redevelopment Project

The Aldergrove Port of Entry (POE) is located 20 kilometers (km) east of the Pacific Highway POE and 15 km west of the Abbotsford-Huntingdon POE. Aldergrove is a highway POE that has traditionally provided traveler and commercial processing, 16 hours per day, from 8:00 am to midnight.

The Aldergrove POE is one of several sites selected as national priorities for the CBSA's major capital investment funding.

The CBSA has strategically invested over $65M in expanding and modernizing ports of entry in the Cascade Gateway region in the last five years. The Aldergrove Redevelopment Project is the last of these investments. All other ports of entry have either been replaced or expanded.

The Aldergrove POE is one of three cross-border truck routes between Lower Mainland British Columbia and Western Washington State. Over 21,000 cars and over 2,500 trucks cross through the Cascade Gateway every day, carrying over $40 million (USD) in daily trade. The Cascade Gateway is a prominent, international trade and travel connection. The Aldergrove facility was built primarily for passenger vehicle processing, and is not currently adequately equipped to process commercial vehicles. Due to the limited opportunity for further expansion of the facilities and highway infrastructure at Douglas, Pacific Highway and Abbotsford-Huntingdon, the Aldergrove POE infrastructure enhancements represent an effective way to facilitate traffic and mitigate border wait times within the Cascade Gateway.

The CBSA has been working to bring the Aldergrove redevelopment project to fruition in partnership with Public Works and Government Services Canada (PWGSC), the BC Ministry of Transportation, The Township of Langley, US Customs and Border Protection (USCBP) and the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDoT).

While a number of design and project milestones must be reached along the way, the site redevelopment and construction of the new facilities are expected to be completed by early 2016.

The efficient movement of goods and people through our secure border is not only vital for trade, but helps promote Canada as an international destination for leisure and business travelers alike. This project will allow the CBSA to enhance our ability to facilitate legitimate travel and trade in this important trade corridor.