VANCOUVER (CBC) - British Columbians heading to the United States via the Peace Arch border crossing on the Victoria Day long weekend can expect extra delays, U.S. officials warned Wednesday.

From Friday evening to Monday morning, the border crossing at Bellingham, Wash., will have only one northbound lane and one southbound lane open as construction crews carry out repair work.

"Starting Friday night at 9 [p.m.] through early Monday morning before the 6 a.m. commute, there will be only one lane southbound through Bellingham and one lane northbound through Bellingham as construction crews repair some of the concrete pavement," said Todd Harrison, an assistant region administrator with the Washington State Department of Transportation.

The eight inspection booths on the U.S. side will be reduced to four beginning Monday, with one being a NEXUS lane, said Lewis Lukens from the U.S. Consulate General's office in Vancouver.

"This is going to lead to a modern border [and] a streamlined border, but like any construction project, there's going to be some inconvenience between now and when it is finished," Lukens said.

U.S. transportation officials recommend travellers use the other three border crossings - via Highway 11 in Huntington, Highway 13 in Aldergrove and Highway 15 at the Pacific Highway crossing.

The U.S. General Services Administration has committed to having 10 inspection booths available during the 2010 Games, said Bill Lesh, the GSA's public affairs manager.

The U.S. transportation department has installed 11 traffic cameras on all four border highways and will soon broadcast border wait times on the internet.

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