Stuck at the border? New online tool alerts Canadian travellers of wait times

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With the Easter long weekend in full swing the Canadian government has launched a new online tool designed to warn travellers of expected wait times along the Canada-U.S. border.

The Canadian Border Services Agency (CBSA) set-up a “Forecasted Border Wait Times” tool on its website that posts estimated wait times and traffic delays for 26 of Canada’s busiest border crossings.

The site organizes the crossings by province and lists daily average wait times for various periods of the year. The tool also lists expected wait times during major statutory holidays including Canada Day, Labour Day and Christmas.

For example, if you are planning to cross the Windsor-Detroit tunnel on Easter Sunday, the website notes that you should expect delays of about 30 minutes during the peak traffic hours of 2-5 p.m.

According to the CBSA website, the predicted times are based on a “statistical analysis of past traffic volumes” and delays during busy travels days such as statutory holidays.

The website also lists a “Current Border Wait Times” table which lists updated traffic delays for both commercial and traveller crossings.

The wait times are updated at least once an hour, 24 hours a day and 7 days a week.

The CBSA has also set-up a specialized Twitter account for each border crossing, allowing motorists to receive up-to-the-minute traffic updates on social media.

The website notes that wait times may change as a result of special events and weather conditions.