San Ysidro Land Port of Entry Expansion Project
Encyclopedia
The San Ysidro Port of Entry is the largest land border crossing between San Diego and Tijuana
, and the busiest land border crossing in the world. The San Ysidro Port of Entry is one of three ports of entry in the San Diego–Tijuana metropolitan region.
With over 300,000 daily commuters crossing between Tijuana
, Baja California
and San Diego, California
, commuting has become a plague for everyday commuters in the metropolitan region; visitors to the Baja California region spend anywhere from one, two and sometimes three hours to enter into the United States. U.S. Border and Customs officials have said that newly implemented inspection technology and properly processing the great amount of persons and vehicles who go through the port on a daily basis have resulted in long lines and long wait times.
and Mexican
governments which aims to the demolition, relocation, expansion, renovation, modernization and construction of new administrative and operational facilities of the current land port of entry in San Ysidro, California
. The project calls for a complete overhaul of the current international border inspection facilities on both sides of the border at a total cost of about $625 million which includes $577 million for the expansion of the northbound U.S. point of entry and roughly $48 million (MXN $598) for the construction of an entirely new southbound Mexican point of entry.
The project is being carried out in three phases:
Expected 2013
Tijuana
Tijuana is the largest city on the Baja California Peninsula and center of the Tijuana metropolitan area, part of the international San Diego–Tijuana metropolitan area. An industrial and financial center of Mexico, Tijuana exerts a strong influence on economics, education, culture, art, and politics...
, and the busiest land border crossing in the world. The San Ysidro Port of Entry is one of three ports of entry in the San Diego–Tijuana metropolitan region.
History
The current San Ysidro Land Port of Entry was constructed in the 1970s to meet the needs of the time and the projected growth in the coming years. Nearly forty years later, this port of entry has reached its adequate operational capacity and after eight years of planning, it is ready for a major facelift. Current data ranks this port as the busiest international port of entry in the world in terms of individual crossers and vehicle movements from one country to another.With over 300,000 daily commuters crossing between Tijuana
Tijuana
Tijuana is the largest city on the Baja California Peninsula and center of the Tijuana metropolitan area, part of the international San Diego–Tijuana metropolitan area. An industrial and financial center of Mexico, Tijuana exerts a strong influence on economics, education, culture, art, and politics...
, Baja California
Baja California
Baja California officially Estado Libre y Soberano de Baja California is one of the 31 states which, with the Federal District, comprise the 32 Federal Entities of Mexico. It is both the northernmost and westernmost state of Mexico. Before becoming a state in 1953, the area was known as the North...
and San Diego, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
, commuting has become a plague for everyday commuters in the metropolitan region; visitors to the Baja California region spend anywhere from one, two and sometimes three hours to enter into the United States. U.S. Border and Customs officials have said that newly implemented inspection technology and properly processing the great amount of persons and vehicles who go through the port on a daily basis have resulted in long lines and long wait times.
San Ysidro Land Port of Entry Expansion Project
The San Ysidro Land Port of Entry Expansion Project is a bi-national effort between the United StatesUnited States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
and Mexican
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
governments which aims to the demolition, relocation, expansion, renovation, modernization and construction of new administrative and operational facilities of the current land port of entry in San Ysidro, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
. The project calls for a complete overhaul of the current international border inspection facilities on both sides of the border at a total cost of about $625 million which includes $577 million for the expansion of the northbound U.S. point of entry and roughly $48 million (MXN $598) for the construction of an entirely new southbound Mexican point of entry.
The project is being carried out in three phases:
- Phase I involves the expansion of northbound vehicle lanes, the implementation of dual primary vehicle inspection booths and a higher capacity secondary inspection facility.
- Phase II involves the demolition of the current administrative building and construction of bigger replacement along with a multi-story employee parking structure. A new pedestrian processing building will also be constructed.
- Phase III involves the relocation of the southbound lanes entering Mexico. These lanes will be moved west of their current location to make space for the planned expansion of new buildings, parking structure and extra northbound lanes. Their new location will allow for a southbound traffic checkpoint to facilitate U.S. officials to conduct inspection of vehicles heading to Mexico. Mexican officials will greet vehicles and occupants at a bigger and better equipped immigration and customs inspection station known as Puerta Mexico El Chaparral.
Construction
2011- On the U.S. side, construction of the new east/west pedestrian bridge was completed on February 15, 2011.
- On September 14, 2011, part of the wooden panels and support beams from the construction project collapsed on vehicles crossing the border, injuring nine people, two seriously. All northbound traffic was diverted to the Otay Mesa Port of EntryOtay Mesa Port of EntryThe Otay Mesa Port of Entry is one three ports of entry in the San Diego–Tijuana metropolitan region. The port is primarily commercial in function and trucks are generally instructed to cross there as opposed to the San Ysidro Port of Entry. Commercial crossing through the port accounts for...
for the rest of the day, causing massive traffic jams.
Expected 2013
- On the Tijuanan side construction of the links that will connect the new El Chaparral Facility with Via Rápida and Avenida Internacional, which leads drivers to the western Tijuanan borough of Playas de TijuanaPlayas de TijuanaPlayas de Tijuana is the westernmost borough of the municipality of Tijuana, Baja California.-Location:The borough of Playas de Tijuana is located in the city of Tijuana, bordered by the Pacific Ocean to the west, the United States to the north, the municipality of Playas de Rosarito to the south...
and nearby Rosarito Beach, has ensued and will continue until estimated completion in 2013.