The border between the United States and Canada is the longest undefended border on Earth and the Peace Bridge crossing from Buffalo, New York, to Fort Erie, Ontario, is the second-busiest crossing between the U.S. and Canada. In 2010, 4.76 million cars crossed the Peace Bridge and more than $40 million in trade crosses the bridge each year.
The Peace Bridge is 3,580 feet long and contains three 12-foot-wide lanes. Pedestrian crossing is available on 6-foot-wide sidewalks on each side of the bridge. The bridge is made of riveted steel and has concrete deck slabs. During rush hour, the middle lane opens to whichever direction has the heaviest traffic flow.
Americans can access the Peace Bridge from Interstate 190, the New York State Thruway, or from Porter Avenue. Canadians can use the four-lane Queen Elizabeth Way, the Niagara Parkway or Highway 3, a regional four-lane road. Users must pay a toll crossing into Canada but do not have to pay to enter the United States. The Peace Bridge accepts the E-Z Pass, an electronic, prepaid toll card, and as of 2011 was the only border crossing that allowed the E-Z Pass.
As of June 1, 2009, people crossing the border into the United States must present proof of identity. American and Canadian citizens 16 older can use a passport, permanent resident card, enhanced driver's license, enhanced non-driver identification, a FAST card or a Nexus card. American and Canadian citizens younger than 16 must present a copy of their birth certificate, a Canadian citizenship card or naturalization certificate. Citizens of other countries must produce a passport.
The NEXUS card is a fast-pass system for people who travel across the border often and allows the cardholder to use special customs inspection lanes. To get a NEXUS card, applicants must pass criminal background checks by Canada and the United States, prove citizenship or legal residency in one of the countries and pay a fee. NEXUS lanes do not operate 24 hours a day and have longer hours from May to August.
The Niagara Falls region has three additional border crossing bridges, located approximately 20 miles north of Buffalo: the Rainbow Bridge, the Whirlpool Bridge and the Lewiston-Queenston Bridge. All three bridges charge tolls to get into Canada; only NEXUS cardholders can use the Whirlpool Rapids Bridge and everyone in the car must have a NEXUS card. The Lewiston-Queenston Bridge only accepts NEXUS cards going into Canada and the Rainbow Bridge only accepts NEXUS cards going into the United States.