Customs and Border Protection (CBP) personnel officially opened the new Port of Entry at Alexandria Bay on July 19, noting the project would increase efficiency and improve traffic flow.
“It’s a state-of-the-art facility that greatly enhances our officers’ ability to screen incoming passenger and commercial traffic,” Area Port Director Timothy Walker said.
The Port of Entry is located on Wellesley Island, N.Y., and serves as the sixth busiest crossing on the U.S.-Canadian border.
“The biggest features of this new facility are the increased space created for queuing traffic and the additional booths to process passenger, cargo, and bus traffic,” Assistant Area Port Director Kurt Tennant said. “The new port was built about 300 yards south of the old facility. The old port was so close to the borderline that there was never any room to queue the vehicles during high-volume traffic. This has always caused traffic issues and delays to our neighbors to the north.”
The scope of work involved two phases, according to the CBP. The initial phase was completed in October 2020, while phase two was completed in March 2022 and included the construction of passenger inbound and outbound inspection areas and the port administration.
New features include a passenger secondary-inspection plaza, as well as a bus inspection site with Non-Intrusive Inspection Equipment.
Additionally, there are interview rooms, a seizure-processing room, holding areas for detention, and a tactical and physical training area with a weapons support room.