East port of entry remodeling announced

Mexicali east port of entry, which last year recorded 2.2 million vehicles, will be modernized to facilitate the crossing of cars and pedestrians, Secretary of Sustainable Economy and Tourism Mario Escobedo said.

“We are joining forces to make border infrastructure projects a reality in Baja California, together with the Ministry of Foreign Relations (SRE), and the Subcommittee on Infrastructure of the Federal Government,” said the official.

The secretary said Mexico and the United States will allocate more than $30 million in projects on both sides of the border by the end of 2021.

The Department for Infrastructure, Urban Development and Territorial

Planning will also collaborate in the project.

During a remote meeting, the project of the High Level Subcommittee on Infrastructure was presented.

Stakeholders agreed to create a working group with representatives from the departments of Foreign Relations, Finance and Public Credit, Tax Administration System, and the Institute for Administration and Appraisals of National Assets.

The project to speed up border crossings consists of aligning the tourist access lanes, loading lanes and pedestrian walkways to tie them with the expansion of the All American Bridge.

Currently, the port has three vehicle lanes and two for cargo trucks northbound, while the other way around there are two vehicle lanes and two for cargo trucks, in addition to the pedestrian walkway.

With the expansion of the bridge, the port will see an increase to five access lanes for vehicles and four lanes for trucks.

Southbound lanes will remain the same.

Escobedo said the state will contribute 3.5 million pesos or $159,090 for the executive project.

Additionally, the project includes tents on the Mexican side for the pedestrian walkway, with a cost of 5 million pesos, or $227,272.

Escobedo added that the U.S. General Services Administration has reported that construction is expected to begin in February 2021 and be completed in November 2022.