© 2024 Western New York Public Broadcasting Association

140 Lower Terrace
Buffalo, NY 14202

Mailing Address:
Horizons Plaza P.O. Box 1263
Buffalo, NY 14240-1263

Buffalo Toronto Public Media | Phone 716-845-7000
WBFO Newsroom | Phone: 716-845-7040
Your NPR Station
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

U.S. Customs Plaza upgrades underway in Lewiston

Chris Caya WBFO News

A major overhaul of the U.S. Customs Plaza at the Lewiston-Queenston Bridge is officially underway. The Niagara Falls Bridge Commission broke ground on the $90 million modernization project on Tuesday.

Customs and Border Protection Buffalo Field Office Director Rose Brophy said the current inspection facilities date to the 1960s. Once completed, Brophy says, the state-of-the-art facility should speed up U.S. bound traffic.    
    
"With this bridge and the capacity we currently have it doesn't really fit the amount of traffic that we're seeing. With the new facility and the new additional booths we'll be able to  process vehicles quickly, more efficiently have more capacity and therefore you will see a reduction in the wait times," Brophy said.

Credit Chris Caya WBFO News
The original U.S. Customs Plaza at Lewiston dates to 1962. It will be demolished and replaced with a modern facility with more capacity to process travelers and commercial vehicles.

The Bridge Commission says work will be completed in stages to keep inspection lanes open and to mitigate delays. The new U.S. Customs processing building is expected to open in early 2020. Completion of the new inspection lanes is on track for 2023.  
 

Related Content