OTTAWA, (Oct. 25, 2004) — The U.S.-bound dedicated NEXUS/FAST lane at B.C.’s Pacific Highway border crossing is complete.

“The completion of this project will go a long way toward improving the movement of people and goods across our borders, something that is vital to the health of our economy,” said Industry Minister David Emerson, on behalf of Transport Minister Jean C. Lapierre. “This innovative technology will lead to fewer delays for travellers and area residents while helping to better facilitate the flow of trade to and from the United States.”

Lapierre said in a press release the FAST lane is good news for commercial traffic dependent on this crossing to move their goods across the border, as well as surrounding residential and commercial neighbourhoods.

The improvements include a NEXUS lane for pre-approved travelers, a FAST truck lane for registered commercial vehicles and drivers; a truck staging area; and a new two-lane road behind the duty free building to give access to the truck parking lot and staging area and to keep non-FAST trucks from blocking the new lanes.

Over $23.9 billion in goods are transported between British Columbia and the United States each year by truck. The Pacific Highway crossing is Canada’s fifth busiest border crossing- averaging over 3,000 truck crossings per day.