Washington welcomes bigger port of entry

Washington welcomes bigger port of entry    The U.S. government last week inaugurated an upgraded facility in Blaine, Wash., that processes travelers and commercial vehicles crossing to and from Canada.
   The Peace Arch port of entry, which is about 30 miles southeast of Vancouver, British Columbia, was built in 1976 and had become functionally obsolete due to increased traffic volumes over the years.
   The improved facility includes a larger main building, more inspection booths and parking spaces to accommodate construction of a new bridge on the northbound Interstate 5. Customs and Border Protection is in charge of the 30,000-square-foot Peace Arch port, which has 10 primary inspection lanes.
   The General Services Administration, which was responsible for managing construction, said the facility includes many environmental enhancements, including a landscaped roof over the secondary inspection area, which will moderate temperatures below and reduce water runoff.
   CBP Commissioner Alan Bersin attended the ribbon-cutting ceremony.
   The GSA worked with CBP, the Federal Highway Administration the Washington State Department of Transportation, the city of Blaine and Canada Border Services Agency to develop the new port.