B.C.-Washington borders crammed as Seattle events draw massive crowds
Posted July 22, 2023 9:32 am.
Last Updated July 22, 2023 9:36 am.
If you’re looking to cross the border into Washington Saturday, hope you brought a packed lunch.
As thousands flock south to major events in Seattle over the weekend, border crossings into the United States are seeing hours-long waits.
7:33 am Estimated #BorderWaitTimes
SB to the US #PeaceArch 120 min (pic) backed up to 8th Ave#Pacific 120 min (pic) backed up Hwy 15 at 8th Ave#Aldergrove opens at 8 am, about 45 min so far#Sumas 60 min +
NB back to Canada
Minimal waits, about 10 – 15 min pic.twitter.com/LJJ1KQuDzZ— CityNews Vancouver Traffic (@CityNewsTraffic) July 22, 2023
Both the Toronto Blue Jays and Taylor Swift will be in Seattle this weekend, marking the only time of the year fans of either in B.C. will be able to take in a performance or game.
The Blue Jays will be playing the Seattle Mariners on Saturday and Sunday this weekend, after playing Friday night.
Taylor Swift will be performing at Lumen Field — directly beside the ballpark — on Saturday and Sunday nights.
Related Articles:
-
Canadians flock to Seattle for Blue Jays, Taylor Swift; city expects ‘record breaking’ tourism weekend
-
BC Ferries, borders busy as British Columbians head south for Blue Jays, Taylor Swift
In a statement to CityNews, the U.S. Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) says it is “aware of the weekend events in Seattle and will adjust staffing as appropriate.”
“Additionally, travelers are urged to plan ahead to help mitigate longer crossing times. We encourage travelers to cross during non-peak hours and to monitor wait times with CBP’s Border Wait Times website.
“Furthermore, travelers are encouraged to have their documents ready to hand to the inspecting officer. Also, travelers should know the contents of their vehicle and be prepared to declare all items obtained from outside of the U.S.
“These tips are not a panacea, but they may help alleviate wait times in many instances.”
Listen live to CityNews 1130 every 10 minutes on the ones for traffic updates. You can also follow us on Twitter @CityNewsTraffic and subscribe to breaking news alerts sent directly to your inbox.
