SAN DIEGO (Border Report) — The Otay Mesa East Port of Entry, slated to open late this year, will not begin operations for at least another year, according to Baja California Gov. Marina del Pilar Ávila Olmeda.
She blamed construction delays on the U.S. side of the border where the San Diego Association of Governments (SANDAG) and the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) have yet to begin work on the crossing, which was supposed to be done by September.
So far, a new highway connecting the future border crossing with the rest of San Diego’s highway system is almost done, but construction of the actual port of entry hasn’t started.
“We’re almost done with the infrastructure work on our side,” Ávila Olmeda said. “We’re about to start installing operational equipment.”
The project on the U.S. side of the border is expect to cost $1.2 billion, said Mario Orso, project manager with Caltrans.
He told the San Diego Union-Tribune delays are due to discussions with federal agencies regarding roles and responsibilities for the maintenance and operation of the port of entry.
“We already hired designers, we have the funds available for construction, and now we are waiting for the green light by Customs and Border Protection and the General Services Administration to officially begin designing the port of entry,” Orso said.
Back in November, U.S. Rep. Juan Vargas, D-California, who represents the area where the crossing is to be built, doubted the port of entry would be done in time, saying, “It would be the first time Mexico did something that we didn’t. It would be entirely and awfully embarrassing.”
At the time he blamed budget squabbles in Washington for a delay in providing the money to begin construction.
When finished, the crossing will have 10 lanes to accommodate both passenger vehicles and commercial trucks.
A toll will be required in both directions, and the money is to be split between the Mexican and U.S. governments.
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