The Canadian Border Service Agency (CBSA) is advising travelers to Canada to use Northgate border crossing (North Dakota Highway 8) and the Estevan Highway border crossing (North Dakota Highway 40) as construction will be causing delays at the North Portal border crossing for the next few days.

"As part of the construction," explained Luke Reimer, Communications Officer with the CBSA, "crews will be replacing a sewer line that runs underneath Highway 39 northbound just pas the CBSA primary inspection booth and the work to be completed would block Canada bound traffic from proceeding north from the CBSA building past the North Portal duty-free for a stretch of about 30 meters, both northbound and southbound traffic will share the two highway lanes normally reserved for southbound traffic only."

"The work is expected to last for about 72 hours and a flag person will be present to direct traffic at all times."

They do not anticipate any lane closures.

He also provided an update on how the construction is going so far.

 "We still are in the early phases of construction. It's expected to take between 18 and 30 months and work began at the end of May 2018. So far new license plate reader equipment was installed in the traffic lane, road bays have been added, and the new primary inspection lane area is in the final stages with concrete and pavement planned to be poured shortly."

"Excavation for the new primary inspection booth foundation has begun and electrical conduit is now in place. Floor grade beams and rebar has been finalized and concrete poured for the new commercial warehouse and currently, crews are installing an underground storm sewer and are excavating for the new truck bay." 

He added that with Daylight Savings time coming up for the rest of the country, starting on Sunday, all the Saskatchewan border crossings will open and close one hour later than before, except for North Portal and the Regway crossings as they are open 24 hr/day.

"For example, Estevan Highway right now opens at 8 AM and closes at 9 PM and starting on Sunday will change to opening at 9 AM and closing at 10 PM."