The Niirala-Värtsilä international border crossing point was opened during 1995 and has an annual processing capacity of 150,000–200,000 border crossers. Nearly 900,000 people crossed the border during 2002, and traveller traffi c is expected to increase by 5–10 per cent annually during the next few years, resulting in an estimated traffi c volume of 1.3–1.6 million in 2010. Th e border crossing point was being improved to meet the requirements of the aforementioned traveller volume. Th e project was to implement a radiation control system update and transfer or expansion, a static scale bridge, an expansion of the camera surveillance system, the acquisition of Virve phones and implementation of the transfer of the axle scales and a pattern recognition system. 50 percent of the project funding was received from the European Regional Development fund and 50 percent from the National Board of Customs. Achievements: The border crossing point was improved to meet the requirements set by the aforementioned increased traffic volumes. The project objectives were achieved as planned. The essential actions of the project were the equipment and device purchases, which were implemented as outlined in the project plan.