The General Services Administration (GSA) officially selected McGough Construction for a significant design-build contract valued at approximately $106.2 million. The St. Paul, Minnesota-based firm now leads the critical modernization effort for the Grand Portage Land Port of Entry (LPOE), a vital crossing situated on the U.S.-Canada border within the Grand Portage Indian Reservation.
McGough will execute all design and construction services to deliver an entirely new LPOE facility. This project advances essential infrastructure enhancements at the location, which currently serves as Minnesota’s second-largest port. The award falls under the GSA’s Design Excellence initiative and leverages funding from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA).
The initiative directly addresses numerous deficiencies present in the existing port, which officials constructed back in 1965. The primary objective of the modernization project is to strengthen national security and boost international commerce.
Specifically, the new facility will dramatically improve operational efficiency for U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP). Key upgrades include expanding lane capacity, constructing a wider commercial truck lane, and establishing modern infrastructure that accelerates the processing of vehicles and pedestrians crossing into the U.S. from Neebing, Ontario, Canada. This design ensures the port meets contemporary operational requirements and supports long-term border management goals.
This major contract award highlights the federal government’s ongoing, concerted effort to secure and streamline trade along our northern border. Given the vast resources allocated through the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, the wave of LPOE modernization projects is fundamentally reshaping border infrastructure across the country. We are seeing a powerful shift toward integrating modern technology and sustainable design into these crucial national security assets.
As contractors, how do you view the GSA’s emphasis on its Design Excellence initiative? Do you see a sustainable path for design-build firms to balance these ambitious modernization goals with historical and environmental considerations, especially when dealing with sites like the Grand Portage LPOE, which sits within a tribal reservation? Share your thoughts on how these large-scale public-private partnerships will impact future border security and supply chain resilience.
