The U.S. government launched the $577 million expansion of the San Ysidro Port of Entry more than a year ago when it began construction of a new pedestrian bridge just north of the busy land port.
The 800-foot bridge, which could open as early as next month, may seem like preliminary work compared with the projects the federal government plans to do over the next six years.
Federal officials plan to hold a groundbreaking ceremony Feb. 24 at the port of entry to call attention to the binational project.
Mexico is also developing new southbound crossing known as El Chaparral, which will cost more than $50 million.
U.S. Sen. Barbara Boxer, San Diego Mayor Jerry Sanders, Baja California Gov. José Guadalupe Osuna and Tijuana Mayor Carlos Bustamante are scheduled to attend the event, according to U.S. officials.
The expansion of the San Ysidro Port of Entry will increase the number of north- and southbound lanes and inspection facilities and make other improvements, all depending on available funding, to help accommodate growing traffic.
"The bottom line is to improve security and to speed up wait times," said Gene Gibson, spokeswoman for the U.S. General Services Administration, which is the port's landlord.
About 50,000 vehicles and 25,000 pedestrians pass through the crossing daily heading into the United States. Tighter security since the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorists attacks have led to longer wait times to cross the border.
The San Ysidro port expansion has been in the works since the early 2000s when serious planning began to modernize, reconfigure and expand the world's busiest land port. When it is completed in 2016, it will be most expensive border project in U.S. history.
Much depends on federal funding however. The project is to be completed in three phases but only the first has been funded, Gibson said.
The first phase, which is to be completed by 2014, involves expanding northbound inspection facilities. Single booths will be replaced with "two-stacked" booths that will allow inspections of two vehicles at the same time.
The port will continue operating during this phase and booths may be closed at a time to allow construction, Gibson said. Work will be scheduled at night or during low-traffic hours to minimize disruptions, she said.
The federal government will work with Mexico, the City of San Diego and Caltrans on traffic issues, she added.
The number of northbound lanes eventually will be increased from 24 to 34 during the third phase of the project, she said.
The second phase involves improvements and new construction of pedestrian processing facilities, which are to begin in 2013 and be completed by 2016.
The third phase, which is to begin in 2014 and be completed by 2016, involves shifting Interstate 5 southbound lanes entering into Mexico to allow for expansion of northbound lanes and other facilities. The new lanes will connect to Mexico's planned El Chaparral port of entry.
Leonel.sanchez@sandiegored.com
.
