Long weekend border waits, reminders

If your Easter long weekend plans involve a road trip into the U.S., make sure you budget some extra time for the border.

As of 3 p.m., the Peace Arch and Pacific Highway crossings were both seeing around two hour waits for southbound traffic. Other crossings have been seeing less volume.

The Canada Border Services Agency is reminding travellers to be prepared if they’re travel plans involve a trip abroad, even through a land crossing.

The CBSA says people should expect delays and check border wait times before they head out.

“Travellers crossing the border by land are encouraged to cross during non-peak hours such as early mornings. The Monday of holiday long weekends tend to be the busiest, with longer border wait times,” the agency explains.

Travellers are reminded to have their travel documents ready — no matter how they are travelling — noting this can help speed up processing times.

If you’re also shopping, make sure you’re ready to declare your goods on the way back, with the CBSA saying you should have receipts “readily available for goods purchased or received while outside of Canada.” In addition, people are reminded to know their personal exemption limits, including for alcohol and tobacco.

Listen to CityNews 1130 every 10 minutes on the ones for traffic updates. You can also catch the Border Report every :39 past the hour.