Contract Set for New Jackman Border Station
By Kennebec Journal, Augusta, Maine
Jan. 16–JACKMAN — The federal government has awarded a $25.9 million construction contract for a new U.S. Customs and Border Protection port of entry in Sandy Bay Township, on the Canadian border.
In announcing the contract to J.C.N. Construction Co. Inc., the General Services Administration noted that a new building is necessary to replace the current crossing, because of increased traffic.
U.S. Sen. Susan Collins announced the contract in a prepared statement.
“This contract is an important step forward in getting the new land port of entry in Jackman built,” Collins said. “This new facility will substantially improve traffic flow at the Jackman port of entry, will facilitate commerce and enhance our safety and security.”
The project consists of a new main port building, commercial warehouse, truck inspection building and canopies, and a vehicle garage.
Marjorie Samra, a regional administrator with the U.S. General Services Administration, said the new port of entry should be on line in about 2 1/2 years. The contractor will inform officials as to when ground will be broken, Samra said.
The new facility will feature extra equipment to expedite the passage of people traveling legally, according to Ted Woo, publicist for the U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s Boston field office. But there is no need to modernize security measures, he said.
“That isn’t the issue,” Woo said. “Wait times is the issue. People will be able to travel through a lot quicker.
“Our main focus is anti-terrorism. We have to facilitate legal travel while still maintaining our enforcement posture.”
Port director Francis Lacasse welcomed Tuesday’s announcement.
“We’ve been waiting quite a few months,” Lacasse said. “It’s nice to know.”
Keith Fleming, state U.S. Customs port director, said earlier that Customs will tear down the current station, which was built following the assassination of President John F. Kennedy. Plans had called for agents to work in a temporary facility while the new one is being built, but that has changed.
“It would be more cost-efficient for us to stay in the old building,” Lacasse said.
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