The Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) issued a construction update on November 21 for the Saint-Bernard-de-Lacolle port of entry, the busiest road gateway between Montreal and New York State. With the primary inspection line now under full reconstruction until winter 2027, the crossing has been reduced to three lanes, and its dedicated NEXUS lane suspended.
To preserve expedited processing for trusted travelers, CBSA has opened a temporary NEXUS-only lane at the nearby Lacolle Route 221 crossing, roughly a 10-minute detour. The lane operates daily from 08:00 to 22:00. Commercial traffic faces the greatest disruption: capacity on the commercial primary line has been cut, although the heaviest work is slated to finish by December 11, after which only intermittent closures are expected.
![CBSA Opens Temporary NEXUS Lane as Major Quebec Border Crossing Enters Reconstruction Phase]()
For logistics managers and frequent business travelers, the message is clear: build extra buffer time into itineraries and consult CBSA’s wait-time dashboard before routing shipments or executive travel through Lacolle. Companies that reimburse NEXUS fees should alert employees to the temporary lane’s hours; outside 8 a.m.–10 p.m., NEXUS members will queue with regular traffic.
The modernization project will ultimately add inspection booths, upgraded license-plate readers and biometric e-gates compatible with both CBSA and U.S. Customs and Border Protection systems—technology that should shorten processing times once the port re-opens at full capacity in 2028.
Until then, cross-border programs are advising drivers of just-in-time deliveries to consider alternate crossings such as Hemmingford or Stanstead, especially during U.S. holiday peaks. Mobility teams relocating staff between Montreal and U.S. client sites should incorporate the detour into employment-contract travel clauses.
To preserve expedited processing for trusted travelers, CBSA has opened a temporary NEXUS-only lane at the nearby Lacolle Route 221 crossing, roughly a 10-minute detour. The lane operates daily from 08:00 to 22:00. Commercial traffic faces the greatest disruption: capacity on the commercial primary line has been cut, although the heaviest work is slated to finish by December 11, after which only intermittent closures are expected.
For logistics managers and frequent business travelers, the message is clear: build extra buffer time into itineraries and consult CBSA’s wait-time dashboard before routing shipments or executive travel through Lacolle. Companies that reimburse NEXUS fees should alert employees to the temporary lane’s hours; outside 8 a.m.–10 p.m., NEXUS members will queue with regular traffic.
The modernization project will ultimately add inspection booths, upgraded license-plate readers and biometric e-gates compatible with both CBSA and U.S. Customs and Border Protection systems—technology that should shorten processing times once the port re-opens at full capacity in 2028.
Until then, cross-border programs are advising drivers of just-in-time deliveries to consider alternate crossings such as Hemmingford or Stanstead, especially during U.S. holiday peaks. Mobility teams relocating staff between Montreal and U.S. client sites should incorporate the detour into employment-contract travel clauses.
