TIJUANA.- Thousands of southbound border crossers had to wait more than two hours to cross into Tijuana from San Ysidro yesterday afternoon and evening, after two lanes south of the El Chaparral border crossing were shut down for repairs.

Yesterday afternoon, Tijuana’s Municipal Government announced that repairs were to take place at the El Chaparral border crossing. The repairs intend to level three drainage manholes that were sticking out and affecting traffic flow.

Most drivers did not receive the announcement, and had to find out first-hand as traffic started to back up on the I-5, 805, and San Ysidro surface streets. Messages, images, and general expressions of anger took over social media profiles of cross-border residents. Reports include drivers arriving in San Ysidro at 9pm and not crossing the border until 11:20 pm. People travelling with young children, disabled people, and elderly adults were especially impacted by the delay.

Southbound and northbound drivers are delayed. Generally, during the summer, commute wait times are shorter than usual going both directions, especially given that children are out of school. San Diego is a prime daytime destination for Tijuana residents that want to go shopping or spend the day in the city. On a nice summer day, it is no surprise that wait times into San Diego increased, and was compounded by the fact that many lanes are shut down heading northbound as a result of the ongoing construction at the San Ysidro port of entry.

Drivers frustration was compounded by the fact that repairs are now occurring on both sides of the border. Bad news for drivers that cross the border as part of their daily commute, as there appears to be no end in sight for the border crossing repairs. As for the repairs occurring on Tijuana’s side, the municipal authorities say that repairs will take about seven days to complete.

Drivers only resort is to be patient. While many opted to attempt crossing south at Otay, this crossing really is almost a non-option given that there are limited lanes into Mexico resulting in equally long delays.

Sadly, the problem has caused economic loss to both sides of the border. The long wait times affect commercial relations, as people spend less money or avoid spending money altogether as the lines get longer. This is not to mention the impact these border crossing delays have on the environment, due to the air contamination created by thousands of idling cars, and the health of those that sit in lines.

Brenda.Colon@sandiegored.com