CALAIS, Maine — The United States held official dedication ceremonies at its newest border crossing Monday at the port of entry in Calais, the sister port to another new facility on the St. Stephen, New Brunswick, side of the St. Croix River.

Sen. Susan Collins labeled the crossing “our new front door” and said it opened the way to economic development opportunities and reinforced the close relationship between Maine and New Brunswick.

Collins said the project, which will allow all commercial traffic to bypass downtown Calais, used $77 million in federal funding. She said Maine’s congressional delegation members often are called “dogs on a bone” because of their tenacity in seeking funding.

“Our borders must be closed to our enemies but open to our friends,” she said. New Brunswick and Maine share friends, family, medical services and an economy, she said.

The new crossing will alleviate lengthy delays at the Ferry Point and Milltown crossings in Calais, which will remain open for passenger vehicle traffic.

“The congestion and delays there were no longer acceptable,” Collins said. The new port stands on 53 acres while the Ferry Point port, built in the early 1900s, is just more than an acre.

Nearly every official who spoke Monday at the celebration reflected on the strong relationship between New Brunswick and Maine.

“This project combined efforts and many years of collaborative work on both sides of the border,” said Glenn C. Rotondo, acting regional administrator of the U.S. General Services Administration.

“The U.S. and Canada have the greatest relationship between two nations in the world,” David C. Jacobson, the U.S. ambassador to Canada, said Monday. “Our ports of entry are the first thing people see when they cross our border. This facility sets the standard for future facilities.”

“We can see here just how integrated the border communities are,” Collins said. “The bond between Calais and St. Stephen is so strong because it is based on a shared history, shared principles and shared lives.”

U.S. Rep. Michael Michaud said the ripple effects of the new crossing will be felt throughout the state. “Jobs were created here at the new ports. It will be easier to transport goods across the border and that will also tend to create jobs,” he said.

Thomas Winkowski, assistant commissioner of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, thanked Collins and Michaud “for not giving up on that bone.” He said 900,000 passenger vehicles and 112,000 commercial trucks pass through Ferry Point and Milltown annually, and it was critical to have a safe, efficient third cross-ing.

“This is a win-win for both security and the communities,” he said.

Maine Department of Transportation Commissioner David Cole said it was nice to come to Calais and not see signs on Route 1 saying “Go Away DOT,” referring to controversial road improvements during the planning process.

“This is a local story,” he said. “The people of St. Stephen and Calais have had to deal with horrific traffic problems.” He said that 56 state, federal, local and provincial agencies worked collaboratively on the port.

The new crossing is off Route 1, just northwest of the Calais center.

The $10 million bridge costs of the project are being shared 50-50 by New Brunswick and Maine. On the Canadian side, the port resembles a turn-of-the-century railroad station, while the American port is utilitarian and imposing.

A mesh facade is intended to look like the granite ledges the port is built on, and the lobby is white with stone floors.

The American side also has state-of-the-art equipment, including a building in which a truck’s cargo can be X-rayed and huge yellow sensors at all entries that measure radiation. It also has a large indoor shooting range and six commercial vehicle bays for closer inspection.

The building has important sustainable features, according to architect Robert Siegel, of New York. These include bioswales that naturally filter water back to the port’s aquifer, a clean air supply filtered through a landscaped courtyard, recycled finish products used throughout, natural light for every occupied space, and reduced electrical usage through daylighting, efficient fixtures and the exterior mesh screen.

Steven Farquharson, U.S. Customs and Border Protection director of field operations, said he still can’t look at the new port without saying, “Wow.”

He said the first week of operations has been smooth sailing, and there have been no problems either with the new building or the new technology.

“This is the way we wanted to start. The traffic is slower right now and will pick up in a few months as the tourist season approaches,” he said. “By then, we will all be familiar with the system and fully ready to handle the busy workload.”