With the recent inauguration of the Siempre Viva bridge and the final stretch of State Route 11, the access route to what will become the Otay II port of entry, which is expected to reduce crossing times to just 20 minutes between Tijuana and San Diego, has been completed.
This binational project, scheduled to open in 2028, aims to improve mobility and trade in the Cali-Baja region. According to David Álvarez, California Assemblymember for District 81, this new route is a crucial step in creating an additional entry point to help alleviate traffic congestion at the current port of entry.
Keep reading: Otay Mesa Port of Entry Project Advances with Siempre Viva Bridge, New SR-11 Segment
The goal is to streamline the movement of cargo trucks and travelers, which will boost the economy and create jobs. Currently, crossing volumes are massive, requiring modern, efficient infrastructure that provides predictable wait times.
Alejandra Mier y Terán, Director of the Otay Mesa Chamber of Commerce, emphasizes that the port of entry will make the region more competitive. Even though it will be toll-based, the certainty of a 20-minute wait is a significant advantage for businesses.
What to Expect from the Otay II Port of Entry?
The Otay II Port of Entry project is part of an initiative to enhance border security and mobility. The construction is a collaboration between agencies from both countries, including SANDAG, Caltrans, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), and Mexico’s Secretariat of Communication and Transportation.
For leaders like Chula Vista Deputy Mayor Carolina Chávez, it is crucial to recognize the economic impact of the border, which generates over $60 billion annually for local and national economies. Therefore, she highlights the importance of fostering development in both regions through projects that prioritize efficiency and safety for trade.
While the project is expected to be completed by 2028, Alejandra Mier y Terán noted that “the revenue and traffic study needs to be updated to reflect current realities so that bonds can be issued to fund the project.”
She also stressed that a response is still pending from the new federal administration in Mexico, as well as the signing of the updated project agreement by Mexico’s Secretariat of Communication and Transportation.
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