In a backgrounder issued late on 24 July, the Canada Border Services Agency laid out the nuts and bolts of the new Gordie Howe Bridge port of entry, branding it “Canada’s most technologically advanced land border facility.” The site boasts 24 primary inspection lanes that can be toggled between 16 commercial or 19 traveller lanes, 12 secondary docks for trucks, fixed and mobile imaging scanners, K-9 units and a multi-use path for cyclists and pedestrians. Staffing and hours: The port will operate 24/7 and draw on the CBSA’s 1,400-strong Southern Ontario workforce. Officers can be redeployed among Windsor’s three crossings in real time, an approach the Agency tested during pandemic surges and Freedom Convoy protests. A dedicated command centre will monitor wait-time dashboards and coordinate with U.S. Customs and Border Protection to balance flows. Trusted-traveller perks: Separate NEXUS and FAST lanes will be open from day one, and the bridge authority has integrated licence-plate readers and biometric kiosks aimed at processing low-risk drivers in under 30 seconds. Cargo importers will be able to file entry data through the CARM portal and schedule secondary exams online, reducing dwell times for just-in-time shipments. Traveller guidance: CBSA used the release to remind motorists to check wait-time apps, avoid peak holiday weekends where possible and keep a full list of commercial goods—even promotional samples—ready for declaration. It also flagged increased enforcement on cannabis, firearms and undeclared currency. Why companies should care: Supply-chain managers can now build more precise ETA buffers into routing software, and mobility teams gain an additional choice for assignees driving between Ontario headquarters and U.S. client sites. The high-tech screening model is expected to serve as a template for future upgrades at Pacific Highway and Emerson, Manitoba.
Source: Canada Border Services Agency
