BLAINE, WA (MyBellinghamNow.com) – Updated border crossing signage is another step closer to becoming a reality in Whatcom County.

The federal Department of Transportation has awarded the Washington State Department of Transportation a nearly $7 million grant to update nearly all of the border wait time signs in Whatcom County.

Sen. Maria Cantwell said that the current signage across our region is over 20 years old and is becoming decreasingly reliable.

Grant funding will cover the installation of new sensors near the border to help streamline traffic wait times. The Whatcom Council of Governments received similar grant funding in 2022 to research and test new technologies at the border.

Sen. Cantwell added that border traffic is expected to spike in the near future as the region prepares to host the FIFA World Cup games in 2026.