SAN DIEGO (Border Report) — The Otay Mesa East Port of Entry should have been open by now charging commuters a toll in both directions but the project has been mired by financing delays, design flaws and future staffing concerns.
However, it appears all those issues have been resolved and the people behind the project — the California Association of Governments (SANDAG) and the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) — are full steam ahead looking to break ground by the end of the fall this year.
“This is the first time a local government, SANDAG and Caltrans from the state, will get together to build a port of entry for the federal government,” said Maria Rodriguez Molina, Director of Mega Projects for SANDAG. “It’s very unique in the agreement structure and unique in the way we’re going to finance it — it’s never been done before,”
Rodriguez Molina said agreements at the local, state and federal levels on both sides of the border, have been signed, and all that’s left to do is finalize construction contracts.
“Late ’27 early ’28 that’s when we anticipate the first opening of northbound direction,” she said.
The project is expected to cost $1.3 billion dollars and is anticipated be a catalyst for the border economy and the region.
“The region has been looking forward to it for 20 plus years,” said Nikki Tiongco, Caltrans Deputy District Director of South County & Trade Corridors. “This new port of entry will increase flow of goods and commerce and will add a layer of security at our border. This is state-of-the-art technology, all of this technology will facilitate a faster and more secure facility at our border.”
Originally, the crossing was going to include 12 northbound lanes to be used by both passenger vehicles and commercial trucks depending on demand, but those lanes have been modified along with other variations in the design.
“We decided to do seven lanes for passengers vehicles and five lanes for cargo in northbound direction.”
On the south side, the crossing was constructed on time and has sat idle for several months.
There’s been talk about allowing empty commercial trucks to cross into Mexico through the facility, but U.S. Customs and Border Protection officials have yet to agree to the idea.
A new highway, California State Route 11 has also been completed that will connect the Otay Mesa East Port of Entry to the rest of San Diego’s freeway system.
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