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The Peace Arch Border Crossing is the common name for the Blaine–Douglas crossing which connects the cities of Blaine, Washington and Surrey, British Columbia on the
Canada–United States border
The border between Canada and the United States is the longest international border in the world. The terrestrial boundary (including boundaries in the Great Lakes, Atlantic, and Pacific coasts) is long. The land border has two sections: Can ...
. I5 on the American side joins BC Highway 99 on the Canadian side. Being the most direct route between the major cities of Seattle
Seattle ( ) is a seaport city on the West Coast of the United States. It is the seat of King County, Washington. With a 2020 population of 737,015, it is the largest city in both the state of Washington and the Pacific Northwest regio ...
, Washington and Vancouver
Vancouver ( ) is a major city in western Canada, located in the Lower Mainland region of British Columbia. As the List of cities in British Columbia, most populous city in the province, the 2021 Canadian census recorded 662,248 people in the ...
, British Columbia, the crossing is the third-busiest on the border with up to 4,800 cars a day. Trucks and other commercial vehicles are prohibited from this location and use the Pacific Highway Border Crossing
The Pacific Highway Border Crossing connects the town of Blaine, Washington and the city of Surrey, British Columbia on the Canada–US border. Interstate 5/Washington State Route 543 on the American side joins British Columbia Highway 15 on the ...
, which is eastward.
Canadian side
In 1882, the initial border station was established at Elgin on theNicomekl River
The Nicomekl River springs from the ground in Langley, British Columbia and travels west through the city to Surrey's Crescent Beach, where it empties into Mud Bay, the northernmost section of the Boundary Bay of the Strait of Georgia. It has a ...
about northwest of the present crossing. The river was the only route for vessels serving the area. When the Semiahmoo Trail opened for vehicular traffic, a New Westminster–Blaine stage service was established. The opening of the New Westminster and Southern Railway in 1891 relocated the border station to a site at Douglas
Douglas may refer to:
People
* Douglas (given name)
* Douglas (surname)
Animals
* Douglas (parrot), macaw that starred as the parrot ''Rosalinda'' in Pippi Longstocking
*Douglas the camel, a camel in the Confederate Army in the American Civi ...
about west of the present Pacific Highway Border Crossing
The Pacific Highway Border Crossing connects the town of Blaine, Washington and the city of Surrey, British Columbia on the Canada–US border. Interstate 5/Washington State Route 543 on the American side joins British Columbia Highway 15 on the ...
. The customs office was in the train station.
When the Great Northern Railway relocated its track via White Rock in 1909, the border station moved westward to the present location near the foreshore. The Port of White Rock provided administrative customs oversight. Oversight passed to New Westminster in 1927 and then to the Port of Pacific Highway in 1932. Canada built a large wooden border station in 1929, being replaced by a concrete structure in 1952. Enlargements were made in 1963. The present facility, which opened in 2009, included an increase in the number of lanes from seven to ten.
Peace Arch Park
Between the two border stations sits thePeace Arch Park
Peace Arch Park is an international park consisting of Peace Arch Historical State Park in the United States and Peace Arch Provincial Park in Canada. The park straddles the international boundary between the two countries at the extreme western ...
, where visitors are free to cross the border within the confines of the park. The Peace Arch
The Peace Arch (french: Arche de la Paix) is a monument situated near the westernmost point of the Canada–United States border in the contiguous United States, between the communities of Blaine, Washington and Surrey, British Columbia. Co ...
was erected in 1921 when a hotel and residences occupied much of the later park area. In 2010, the only time the Olympic torch
The Olympic flame is a symbol used in the Olympic movement. It is also a symbol of continuity between ancient and modern games. Several months before the Olympic Games, the Olympic flame is lit at Olympia, Greece. This ceremony starts the Olym ...
left Canada was in crossing the border into the US side of the park.
US side
The original 1920s-era brick building underwent a major rebuild in 1979. TheGeneral Services Administration
The General Services Administration (GSA) is an independent agency of the United States government established in 1949 to help manage and support the basic functioning of federal agencies. GSA supplies products and communications for U.S. gover ...
constructed the new state-of-the-art facility which opened in 2010 but was officially dedicated the next year. Wait times can be up to four hours; traffic lights exist on the southbound lane, with timers showing when the light will turn green so drivers can turn off engines.
See also
*List of Canada–United States border crossings
This article includes lists of border crossings, ordered from west to east (north to south for Alaska crossings), along the International Boundary between Canada and the United States. Each port of entry (POE) in the tables below links to an art ...
References
{{reflist Canada–United States border crossings Transport in Surrey, British Columbia Transportation buildings and structures in Whatcom County, Washington 1891 establishments in British Columbia 1891 establishments in Washington (state) Interstate 5