SAN DIEGO (Border Report) — The reopening of the “Chaparral Bridge” just south of the border in Tijuana has been delayed by another three months.
Tijuana’s Mayor, Montserrat Caballero, told reporters on Thursday that repairs on the bridge are not finished.
“It’s not going to happen until June when we can use the bridge once again,” the mayor said.
Early last year, a wide crack developed on the bridge, and inspections revealed it was in danger of collapsing and in need of a retrofit.
Repairs began a few months later.
Montserrat said the bridge, originally constructed by Mexico’s federal government, would be repaired using city funding at a cost of 75 million pesos, about $4.4 million.
The project was supposed to be done in January of this year, but Montserrat says more structural damage has been found along the way requiring even more repairs.
The bridge is a key link for drivers heading to and from the San Ysidro Port of Entry.
Its closure is said to be one of the reasons for the increased traffic congestion and delays in the area just south of the border.
Right now, in the evenings, southbound border traffic into Tijuana is taking up to three hours on a nightly basis.
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