Sweetgrass–Coutts Border Crossing

The Sweetgrass–Coutts Border Crossing connects the town of Sweet Grass, Montana with the village of Coutts, Alberta, on the Canada–United States border. It is the busiest port of entry for both the province of Alberta and state of Montana, and among the busiest west of the Great Lakes. The border crossing is connected by Interstate 15 (I-15) and Alberta Highway 4.

Sweetgrass–Coutts Border Crossing
Entering the United States at the Sweetgrass-Coutts Joint Border Inspection Station
Location
CountryUnited States; Canada
Location
Coordinates48.998393°N 111.960447°W / 48.998393; -111.960447
Details
Opened1890
US Phone(406) 335-9610
Canadian Phone(800) 461 9999
HoursOpen 24 hours
Website
https://www.cbp.gov/contact/ports/area-port-sweetgrass-montana-3310

History
US Border Inspection Station at Sweetgrass, Montana, as seen in 1997

The port of entry was established in 1890 when a narrow gauge railroad was completed by the Galt Companies that delivered coal from Lethbridge, Alberta, to Great Falls, Montana.[1] In 1936, the US built an elaborate Georgian Revival border station which still stands today, and is listed in the National Register of Historic Places. This station was replaced around 1979 with a single story brick building when US Route 91 was replaced by I-15 a few feet to the west. This building has since been demolished. In 2004, the US and Canada completed work on a massive joint border inspection station which houses the inspection agencies of both countries. Rail traffic continues to cross the border at this location as the Canadian Pacific Railway and BNSF Railway meet here.

US border station at Sweetgrass MT as seen in 1936

In the fall of 2020, after several months of travel restrictions between the United States and Canada due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the governments of Alberta and Canada announced a pilot program for travelers through this crossing. Any essential workers and Canadian citizens who enter Canada here can will be allowed to take a COVID test and, if they test negative, they will be allowed to quarantine for only 48 hours instead of the usual 14 days. This pilot program also applies to travelers entering Canada at Calgary International Airport.[2]

See also

References
  1. "The Village of Coutts, Alberta Territory, began as a hamlet in 1890..." CouttsAlberta.com. Retrieved 31 March 2015.
  2. Tasker, John Paul (22 Oct 2020). "Alberta to pilot COVID-19 testing at border that could shorten quarantine time". CBC.
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