The surrounding flat and low lying land exposes the location to frequent flooding.

[5] By 1877, a customs office existed at Smuggler's Point (later called Spencerville), which was estimated to be 2 kilometres (1.2 mi) west of the present crossing.

[7] One of the oldest customs offices in the province, Gretna was established in 1883 under the administrative oversight of the Port of Emerson.

The earliest activity was highway traffic, but the arrival of the railway changed the principal role.

[6] The prior year, the Midland Railway of Manitoba had built a Portage la Prairie–Neche rail line.