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
Country	United States; Canada
Location	I-15 / Hwy 4 US Port: 39825 Interstate 15, Sweet Grass, Montana 59484 Canadian Port: Highway #4 South, Coutts, Alberta T0K 0N0
Coordinates	48.998393°N 111.960447°W / 48.998393; -111.960447
Details
Opened	1890
US Phone	[phone]
Canadian Phone	[phone]
Hours	Open 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

See also

• List of Canada–United States border crossings

References

1. "The Village of Coutts, Alberta Territory, began as a hamlet in 1890..." CouttsAlberta.com. Retrieved 31 March 2015.