Quebec-Maine border point gets a facelift

SAINT THEOPHILE, Que. — Prime Minister Paul Martin was on hand to inaugurate the new Armstrong border crossing in Beauce, Que.

Access to and from the new crossing will be improved by additional investments made by the Government of Canada working in partnership with the province to improve transportation infrastructure in strategic corridors essential to economic development in Quebec. The $51.5 million the feds will hand out is to be spent on Hwy. 173, leading to the Armstrong border crossing, as well as on Highway 73.

Located at the southern end of Route 173 on the Maine border, Armstrong is the fourth busiest land-border crossing in Quebec. Last year, more than 270,000 travellers and 194,000 vehicles entered Canada through this port of entry.

The following work areas were also added to the new Armstrong office: search rooms and holding cells; a functional warehouse for examining commercial goods; a bus clearance site; a vehicle examination area; and a well-equipped garage to facilitate the work of inspectors.

The border complex is also equipped with the latest computer technology to accelerate the processing of travellers and goods while still providing inspectors with the information required to perform their work.