With the continuing growth of international commerce between the US and Canada, Pt. Roberts plays an important role in the regional exchange of goods with Canada. The port of entry facility is the symbolic and actual gateway into the United States, and its appearance should reflect its importance. The project scope included complete replacement of the undersized and ill-equipped main porthouse, expansion of all site components such as primary inspection, secondary inspection, staff, visitor and impound parking, and a new GSA contractor workshop/storage building.

Critical issues were:
The facility had to be fully operational during construction as well as there being extensive intergovernmental coordination among US tenant agencies, Federal, State and local authorities and their Canadian counterparts.