Mexico’s President Claudia Sheinbaum inaugurated the first segment of Tijuana’s elevated viaduct during a visit to Baja California, marking a key milestone in a major infrastructure project aimed at easing traffic across the city.
Baja California Governor Marina del Pilar Ávila Olmeda said the completed viaduct is expected to cut travel times for drivers from up to an hour to about 12 minutes once the full project is open.
The elevated roadway will eventually connect the Tijuana International Airport with the El Chaparral border crossing and the Playas de Tijuana area. The first segment links Playas de Tijuana with El Chaparral, while a second segment, scheduled to open in February, will extend the route to the airport.
The viaduct will span 11.4 kilometers and feature elevated bridges and modern traffic lanes designed to improve safety and traffic flow. Officials said the speed limit along the route will be approximately 70 kilometers per hour, with the project intended to relieve congestion in some of Tijuana’s busiest corridors.
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The initial phase includes 7.2 kilometers of roadway, a one-kilometer tunnel, and multiple elevated sections rising between 9 and 35 meters. According to local outlet Calafia Noticias, construction has generated more than 6,400 indirect jobs over the past 42 months.
Ahead of the opening, Sheinbaum highlighted the project’s expected impact on mobility, calling it a significant improvement for daily travel in key areas of the city.
Following brief remarks, officials held a ribbon-cutting ceremony to formally open the first segment. The newly inaugurated stretch will be open to vehicle traffic starting Friday, Jan. 30.
