[Surrey/Blaine] Peace Arch Border Crossing | CAN: Completed / US: u/c

deasine · #1 Posted: **May 20, 2008, 1:21 AM**

Not in Canada, but it does affect many Vancouverites.

Quote:

Bohlin Cywinski Jackson is redeveloping one of the busiest ports of entry along the northern U.S. border, serving Seattle and Vancouver and uniquely sited between Semiahmoo Bay and the international Peace Arch Park.

The design is conceived as an integral part of the larger landscape balancing civic and national symbol with the historic Peace Arch monument at its center. As a response to the sensitive natural setting and constrained site, the preliminary design concept places the large vehicular area below a landscaped roof cut into the sloped site. The building and primary canopy are accentuated as a single linear element - an expression of the border line itself.

The landscape topography and vegetation connect north and south with a visual and symbolic gesture reaching through the building toward the Peace Arch and south to the United States. Landforms extend and accentuate the existing organic forms in contrast with the building, enhancing and reinforcing the surrounding context.

Peace Arch will be LEED certified at the silver level and is designated as a GSA Design Excellence project subject to the Federal government's highest standards of design and functional performance. Following an extensive master plan and feasibility study the project is currently in schematic design.

Source: Bohlin Cywinski Jackson

Construction Detours:

Source: Bellinham Herald

Renderings/Site Plans:
http://lh3.ggpht.com/deasine/SDInS-m...zXU8cI/001.jpg
http://lh3.ggpht.com/deasine/SDInS-m...mqo98s/002.jpg
http://lh4.ggpht.com/deasine/SDInTOm...TeVZ7s/003.jpg
http://lh4.ggpht.com/deasine/SDInTOm...ZQwHno/004.jpg
http://lh5.ggpht.com/deasine/SDInTem...za6-6Y/005.jpg

mr.x · #2 Posted: **May 20, 2008, 1:59 AM**

What about the redevelopment project on the Canadian crossing?

nikw · #3 Posted: **May 20, 2008, 3:59 AM**

Last time i crossed the border was in October and the Canadian border project looked as though the majority of the major structural work was completed.

deasine · #4 Posted: **May 20, 2008, 4:35 AM**

I can't find any rendering for it but it looks great =) When was the last time I crossed it? I think in March?

mr.x · #5 Posted: **Feb 10, 2009, 3:06 AM**

New Peace Arch Crossing delayed until after 2010 Games

Updated: Mon Feb. 09 2009 16:04:16

ctvbc.ca

Driving across the U.S.-Canada border was supposed to get easier a year from now -- but it's going to take a little longer than hoped.

Delays mean construction at the Peace Arch Crossing won't be finished before the 2010 Games, as previously announced.

U.S. Customs is rebuilding its port of entry at Blaine, Washington, and with the usual eight inspection booths reduced to just four, the target date has been pushed back to November 2010, months after the end of the Games.

The reason officials give is that the design of a new bridge and highway delayed work for months.

Once finished, there will be 10 lanes and double the number of secondary inspection lanes.

WE'RE SENDING OUR INVADING ARMY INTO THE U.S.!

GeeCee · #6 Posted: **Feb 10, 2009, 3:23 AM**

What a massive clusterfuck. Glad I've got a NEXUS card.

mattropolis · #7 Posted: **Feb 10, 2009, 4:03 AM**

Bureaucratic nonsense is also preventing a second daily Amtrak train from going between Vancouver and Seattle. The train is paid for by Amtrak, but the Canadian Border Services Agency wants to charge $1500 per day for inspection services.

The current train, all bus, all plane and all cars are not charged to cross the border now, so why should a new train get charged a fee?

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/htm...ictrain09.html

usog · #8 Posted: **Feb 10, 2009, 8:47 AM**

The story says they would have extended a Portland run? Someone obviously needs to be shot over this.

vanlaw · #9 Posted: **Feb 10, 2009, 3:54 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by mr.x2

What about the redevelopment project on the Canadian crossing?

It appears to be done. The approach is a little messed up because of the US construction, but the actual Canadian crossing looks like it is complete. I came across Sunday at 3pm - 4 lanes + 1 nexus open, 5 cars in front of me. If the $ were at .90+, pretty sure that wait would have been much longer than the 5 min.

Going down on Saturday took Pacific Crossing due to construction at US part of Peace Arch. Wait looked like it was about 45 min, but popped into the duty free to grab a few bottles and there wasnt the usual lineup in the parking lot to get out. Total wait was about 15 min at 1230pm Saturday.

Total wait time of 20 min both south and northbound on a sat/sun is pretty sweet.

osirisboy · #10 Posted: **Feb 10, 2009, 4:21 PM**

are there any renderings of either the cnd or us new border crossings, i cant find anything.

metroXpress · #11 Posted: **Feb 10, 2009, 5:39 PM**

^Yeah...I remember that the Canadian Border Crossing is almost completed and parts of it are already in use.

johnjimbc · #12 Posted: **Feb 10, 2009, 5:52 PM**

I also drove back across the border on Sunday. The Canadian crossing is impressive.

Some work is still continuing. They still need to do some road resurfacing near the new lanes, and they still need to remove the old entry lanes and building. I think there is also another smaller building being constructed after you've entered Canada (I seem to recall passing some other structure behind a fence though I could be mistaken). The new main structure is complete, and the new lanes are in use. It all looks really nice.

I hadn't even realized the US side was planning improvements. I do wish the whole border upgrade would have been complete by the Olympics.

Well, I guess the Canadian crossing will be a lot more impressive for visitors than the drive back, if looking for a silver lining.

deasine · #13 Posted: **May 19, 2009, 6:19 AM**

Excuse the quality... these were taken on my phone.

Border Updates on Canada to US Side

Taken by Deasine ∙ May 18 2009 ∙ Hosted on Picasa ∙ Creative Commons Protected

Taken by Deasine ∙ May 18 2009 ∙ Hosted on Picasa ∙ Creative Commons Protected

Border Updates on US to Canada Side

Taken by Deasine ∙ May 18 2009 ∙ Hosted on Picasa ∙ Creative Commons Protected

Taken by Deasine ∙ May 18 2009 ∙ Hosted on Picasa ∙ Creative Commons Protected

Took these because of this HUGE ass crow:

Taken by Deasine ∙ May 18 2009 ∙ Hosted on Picasa ∙ Creative Commons Protected

agrant · #14 Posted: **May 19, 2009, 12:50 PM**

That crow might be a raven. Thanks for the pics.

metroXpress · #15 Posted: **May 19, 2009, 4:49 PM**

The information centre is also new!!

metroXpress · #16 Posted: **May 21, 2009, 11:03 PM**

So how much do you have to pay for NEXUS....I heard that there is a long application process and lots of security checks??

Also, any idea how the US side would look like after the renovation?

GeeCee · #17 Posted: **May 22, 2009, 12:54 AM**

NEXUS is $50 every five years. The interview process isn't too bad, but you need to pass security checks, etc. You also need to provide your fingerprints and other personal information such as your employment info, why you generally travel, credit card information for duty fees, etc to both Canada Customs and the US CBP. If you'd like to use it for air travel as well, you'll also need to have your irises scanned.

I have no criminal record and I have one. It's really not so bad, but if you do apply for one, expect to spend several hours at YVR waiting between the Canadian and American sides for your interviews.

http://www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/prog/nexus/menu-eng.html

Quote:

Eligibility for membership in NEXUS is dependant on the following information:

* your eligibility for immigration in Canada or the United States
* the proper completion of your application
* a criminal background check
* any violations of immigration or customs laws
* and any other information NEXUS requires.

I don't use it as often as I thought I would, but it's very nice to be able to just drive past an hour long line and wait five minutes or less.

metroXpress · #18 Posted: **May 23, 2009, 5:07 PM**

^ thanks for the info

crazyjoeda · #19 Posted: **May 24, 2009, 5:29 AM**

Way to small. Waits of over an hour should be unacceptable; boarder crossings in Ontario and Quebec have way more inspection booths.

BTW did you know that Amtrak wants to add more service from Seattle to Vancouver but Canada Customs now wants train passengers to pay for their inspection. It seems insane to charge train passengers but not cars.

Andlauer · #20 Posted: **May 24, 2009, 11:26 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by crazyjoeda

Way to small. Waits of over an hour should be unacceptable; boarder crossings in Ontario and Quebec have way more inspection booths.

BTW did you know that Amtrak wants to add more service from Seattle to Vancouver but Canada Customs now wants train passengers to pay for their inspection. It seems insane to charge train passengers but not cars.

*agrees*

I don't know why but BC really skimped on the border crossing. Wait until the US side is done it'll absolutely put ours to shame.

Its already happened at the Aldergrove crossing. The US checkpoint is brand new, state of the art, and has double the amount of booths. The Canadian side looks like a bomb shelter built in the 70's.