Canada's customs agency is preparing to handle a huge shift in commuter traffic starting this weekend.
The Windsor-Detroit Tunnel will shut down completely for ten days beginning at 8pm Friday, leaving the Ambassador Bridge as the only way for vehicles to cross the border into the United States from Windsor. This could mean significant delays while crossing the bridge, especially for commuters heading to the US for work.
The Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) announced Monday it will be adding additional officers and other resources to handle the increased traffic for the Canadian point of entry at the bridge, as well as the Blue Water Bridge in Sarnia.
For commuters, the CBSA has these tips to ensure there's minimal hassle at the Ambassador Bridge while the tunnel closures are in effect:
- If you travel to the States for work or for pleasure, allow yourself a lot of extra time to get to your destination. If you are able to, travel during non-peak hours when delays are minimized. Delays caused by sudden traffic surges, vehicle crashes and enforcement actions are beyond the control of CBSA or bridge staff.
- If you are a member of the NEXUS trusted-traveler program, use your card. Use of the special NEXUS lanes are reserved for vehicles in which all occupants are NEXUS members. This cuts down on wait times though you may still be selected randomly for a secondary inspection. The NEXUS card can also be used as a form of ID in the regular lanes when the NEXUS lane is closed. If you do not have a NEXUS card and wish to apply for one, click here.
- Check the border wait times using the CanBorder app and plan accordingly.
- Be sure you are aware of what exemptions you have if you are bringing goods back into Canada. Failure to do so may result in being sent to secondary inspection or having your NEXUS privileges revoked. For complete information on exemptions, click here.