WHATCOM COUNTY, WA (MyBellinghamNow.com) – Crossing the border in Whatcom County will speed up in the coming years, but it could come at the cost of local businesses.

The U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) announced on Jan. 14 that plans are moving forward to upgrade the border crossings in Lynden and Sumas.

The GSA chose a north-south oriented expansion to the Kenneth G. Ward crossing in Lynden and a multi-story expansion to the Sumas crossing. Both crossings were built in the late 1980s and are in need of upgrades to expand their processing capacity and cut down on wait times.

“The land ports of entry in Lynden and Sumas are not only crucial passageways for commercial vehicles, but also serve as a bridge between closely-tied American and Canadian communities,” said Sukhee Kang, Regional Administrator for GSA’s Northwest/Arctic Region. “Now that we have completed our environmental review, we can begin the work of designing new, expanded facilities that will make it faster, safer and easier for all who enter our country through Whatcom County. With funding from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and the Inflation Reduction Act, GSA will deliver state-of-the-art facilities that will support cross-border community and economic vitality in the Pacific Northwest.”

The GSA’s report notes that the expansion in Sumas requires the agency to buy over 8 acres of land, which would displace at least four active businesses on Cherry Street and American Legion Post 212.

Meanwhile, the project in Lynden would require the agency to buy over 5 acres of land that currently contains includes farmland commercial facilities, a business and a residence.

Construction is expected to begin in September 2026 and last through November 2028.