The planned expansion of the Sumas and Lynden border crossings is still in development stages, as the federal government continues to collect feedback for an environmental impact statement draft due this summer.
The projects will expand capacity at both ports of entry. In Lynden, the project will expand the port from a 16-hour limited-service port to a 24-hour, full-service port with five personal vehicle lanes and four commercial processing lanes. In Sumas, the project will expand commercial inspection lanes from two to four and personal vehicle lanes from five to six, as well as modernize main building operations and construct a pedestrian corridor.
But the expansions will require several businesses and landowners to sell to the federal government, according to draft plans. The construction, set to begin in September 2026 and complete by November 2028, may also require temporary port closures.
An open house held by the General Services Administration (GSA) on Tuesday, April 16, provided only minor updates to a project that won’t be finalized until the end of 2024.
GSA presented maps of the proposed project boundaries. The Sumas boundary map was slightly adjusted from a map presented in November, due to the initial proposal cutting through property lines, said Christi Chidester Votisek, a GSA public affairs officer. There are two potential project boundaries for Lynden: an east-west option and a north-south option.
The Lynden project is projected to cost $90 to $100 million, and the Sumas project is estimated to cost $135 million to $155 million.
Currently, the project is in the planning stage, with development of a National Environmental Policy Act-required Environmental Impact Statement underway. The statement will outline all potential impacts of the project on the human environment.
In August, GSA will release the draft Environmental Impact Statement for public review. At that point, the preferred project plan, including the project boundary, will be made public, Votisek said. Then, GSA will host a public hearing for people to provide more feedback before the final plan is developed by the end of 2024.
Residents in November expressed concern about the impact the project will have on the Sumas economy, especially given the devastation of the flooding three years ago and the slow regrowth of the economy since the pandemic. Potential border closures are also a concern.
Read more: Residents worry planned border crossing expansion could harm Sumas economy
Votisek said they plan to award a contract for construction for the port expansions like it’s one project, so they can coordinate and avoid closing both ports at the same time.
“[Project managers are] trying to look at it as a whole to try to lessen that burden that people are concerned about the border closing,” she said.
Votisek said it’s likely they’ll close the Lynden port down completely for a period, due to it already being a limited service port. During construction, they’ll likely have some phased lane closures at the Sumas port.
“There’s no alternative that closes Sumas down completely,” Votisek said.
For people who might have to sell their land to the government, GSA Relocation Counselor Kate Gill said she’s in contact with them and will be setting up meetings to outline the process. There are seven businesses and seven tenants in Sumas who could be impacted, and one landowner in Lynden.
Charlotte Alden is CDN’s general assignment/enterprise reporter; reach her at charlottealden@cascadiadaily.com; 360-922-3090 ext. 123.
