The Canada Border Services Agency updated its border-wait-time portal on the evening of July 14 with an advisory that redevelopment work at the Saint-Bernard-de-Lacolle (Highway 15) crossing will continue until winter 2027. Although current waits were only five minutes, CBSA cautions travellers to expect periodic slow-downs as primary-inspection lanes are re-configured. Saint-Bernard-de-Lacolle is the busiest Quebec–New York gateway and a strategic route for just-in-time shipments serving Montreal’s aerospace and life-sciences clusters. Carriers such as DHL and UPS rely on predictability to meet same-day delivery commitments; even brief congestion can trigger cascading delays along the I-87 corridor. The agency recommends that commercial drivers consult real-time wait data and consider alternate ports such as Lacolle Route 223 or the Cornwall–Massena bridge when feasible. Passenger vehicles are also urged to travel outside afternoon peak hours. CBSA says it will deploy mobile officers and traffic-control staff during construction surges, but travellers should build extra buffer time into itineraries. For mobility managers moving employees between U.S. and Canadian sites, the notice is a reminder to verify work-permit validity and to carry employment letters, as secondary inspection volumes often rise during infrastructure projects. Companies with lease vehicles should ensure drivers’ FAST cards and vehicle registrations are up to date to use expedited lanes that remain open. The Lacolle refurbishment is part of a $268-million federal programme to modernise land ports ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, when cross-border traffic is expected to spike.
Source: Canada Border Services Agency
