Construction of the anticipated Otay Mesa East Port of Entry facility on the U.S. side is set to commence this fall as two key agreements have been finalized.
The new agreements with the U.S. federal government and Mexico pave the way for the port, which will be located a few miles east of the existing Otay Mesa border crossing. With an overall budget of $1.3 billion, the project aims to alleviate border wait times between San Diego and Tijuana.
Nikki Tiongco, the South County Trade Corridors director with Caltrans, emphasized the importance of this infrastructure. “We continue to work closely with all of the entities so that we can get this to the finish line,” Tiongco stated. “This is a project that is very critical to our region, and we’re just very excited to finally break ground in the vertical portion of this facility.”
Recently, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and the General Services Administration announced a formalized Donation Acceptance Agreement with SANDAG and Caltrans. Under this agreement, SANDAG and Caltrans will oversee the port’s construction, which will subsequently be donated to the federal government.
María Rodríguez Molina, a project manager with SANDAG, noted that both agencies are also committing to share the operation and maintenance costs for the port for the next 40 years.
“This project represents a long-anticipated investment in our border community that will strengthen security, improve efficiency, and support the economic livelihood of the San Diego region,” said Sidney Aki, CBP’s director of field operations in San Diego.
At a recent board meeting, SANDAG officials elaborated on the financial strategy for the project’s next phase, which receives funding from various sources. This includes a $150 million contribution from the Infrastructure for Rebuilding America (INFRA) grant, $192 million from California’s Trade Corridor Enhancement Program, and $15 million from local funds. SANDAG plans to cover the remaining $271 million through bonds.
Additionally, officials in Mexico confirmed that the Department of Infrastructure, Communications, and Transportation accepted the terms of a prior agreement established by SANDAG. Last Friday, an addendum to this agreement, which included modifications related to toll collection on the Mexican side, was signed.
Alicia Kerber, Mexico’s consul general in San Diego, reported that Mexico has already allocated $356 million for construction and related infrastructure south of the border, where construction is nearing completion in Tijuana.
“San Diego and Tijuana are a complete and tangible example of binational integration in terms of economic, social, and cultural exchanges,” Kerber remarked.
The long-awaited project on the U.S. side has been in development for over 20 years, which notably includes the construction and completion of state Route 11.
Rodríguez Molina mentioned that a specific date for breaking ground on the port of entry facility is yet to be determined, as the agency is still finalizing the construction contract. Once ready, this contract will be presented to the board for authorization to initiate construction.
However, it will take time before border commuters can start using the new crossing. The project is already significantly behind its original timeline, as the opening date was initially expected to be in late 2024.
If everything proceeds according to the current schedule, the first phase of the project may be operational by the end of 2027. This initial phase will involve the opening of the northbound crossing for both commercial and passenger vehicles.
Unlike other ports of entry, the Otay Mesa East border crossing will implement a “dynamically priced toll” for wait times ranging from 20 to 30 minutes or less. This toll revenue will be collected electronically in Mexico and divided evenly between both countries.
Over the next 40 years, the project is estimated to generate $3.7 billion for each country, further enhancing economic ties and efficiency in the border region.
image source from：sandiegouniontribune
