The Niirala-Värtsilä international border crossing location was opened during 1995 and has an annual processing capacity of 150,000–200,000 border crossers. Nearly 925,000 people crossed the border during 2003, and traveller traffic is expected to increase by 5–10 per cent annually during the next few years; therefore, the estimated volume during 2010 would be 1.3–1.6 million travellers. A significant proportion of the border traffic was heavy transport (wood transport), which is why the existing road structures had deteriorated. The investment project was intended to implement the construction of the fast lanes and lane signage for both the arriving (three lanes) and the departing (two lanes) light traffic lanes. In addition, the existing road structures were to be reinforced throughout the traffic area. The project would bring the light traffic lane arrangements at the Niirala border station up to the current border crossing regulation standards as well as the level required by EU’s border traffic practices. 50 percent of the project funding was received from the European Regional Development fund and 50 percent from the Finnish Road Administration.