The Lansdowne Port of Entry, located at the Thousand Islands Bridge in Ontario, is one of the most important crossings on the Canada-US border, both for commercial vehicles and passenger traffic. Under the Beyond the Border Action Plan, released by Prime Minister Stephen Harper and President Barack Obama in December 2011, it was identified as a priority for investments by the Canadian Government.
Under the Beyond the Border Action Plan, Canada and the U.S. agreed to make significant infrastructure upgrades at key border crossings to facilitate trade and travel, thereby creating jobs and supporting growth and prosperity. The Government of Canada has allocated up to $60 million in new funding for the Lansdowne improvements in Budget 2012. Funding will flow through the Gateways and Border Crossings Fund. To date, the Government of Canada has dedicated over $2.1 billion under the Fund to ensure the efficient flow of goods and people between Canada and the rest of the world.
The Beyond the Border Action Plan focuses on four areas: addressing threats early; facilitating trade, economic growth and jobs; integrating cross border law enforcement; and strengthening critical infrastructure and cyber security.
This project will construct a new Canada Border Services Agency inspection plaza, including an increase from the current eight to thirteen new Primary Inspection Lanes (two of which will be dedicated to commercial traffic), an expansion of the CBSA travellers’ facility and the secondary examination facilities, and improved roadways. The Lansdowne Port of Entry (POE) is located in Lansdowne, ON, 40 km east of Kingston, Ontario. The POE connects with Highway 401, which runs northeast to Montreal and southeast to Toronto and Highway 416 going north to Ottawa.
The CBSA inspection facilities at Lansdowne are owned and operated by the Federal Bridge Corporation Limited.
The planning phase of this project is scheduled to begin this year, with the construction phase expected to start in 2015 and to take approximately two years to complete.
Further details on the Beyond the Border Action Plan can be found at www.actionplan.gc.ca/border