Otay II crossing may not open in 2024

Second port of entry project may take two years longer amid wait for final agreements.

SAN DIEGO — The anticipated second Otay Mesa border crossing project could take longer than originally announced.

The newest port of entry, known as Otay II, could open in 2026 instead of late 2024. However, the project manager on the U.S. side said crews were working around the clock in hopes of opening it sooner.

Last Friday, the San Diego Assn. of Governments and the California Department of Transportation — agencies in charge of the Otay Mesa East project — were granted a $140-million grant from the California Transportation Committee.

This completed the funding strategy for the $1.2-billion project, said Mario Orso, project manager with Caltrans.

The new crossing will feature five vehicle lanes and five more for commercial trucks, with the option for these to be interchangeable depending on time and demand.

Unlike the other ports of entry, such as San Ysidro, a toll fee will be required when exiting the inspection booth on the U.S. side. The money will be divided between Mexico and the United States.

Officials say the toll will guarantee an average waiting time of 20 minutes.

The project delay stems from discussions with federal agencies regarding roles and responsibilities for the maintenance and operation of the port of entry, Orso said. Once those take place, the gate design phase can begin.

“We already hired designers, we have the funds available for construction of the port of entry, and now we are waiting for the green light by Border Protection and the General Services Administration to officially begin designing the gate,” said Orso, who added that an agreement with both agencies still needs to be signed.

Two years ago, California and Mexico signed another agreement to work together to deliver the project by the end of 2024.

On the U.S. side, a freeway connector has already been built, and last year, officials celebrated the Otay Mesa East groundbreaking.

Orso said they were currently working on site preparation and behind the scenes on architectural issues and technology implementation, including a measuring system for border wait crossing times.

Last week, Mexican officials gave a progress update, indicating that their part would be completed by December. The construction is overseen by the national defense secretary of Mexico.

An elevated viaduct is being built in Tijuana to connect the border crossing. The project’s investment is about $330,000.

Gen. Raúl Manzano, resident engineer of the Baja California customs modernization works, acknowledged that the initial stage of the project was slow due to the right-of-way clearance. “We don’t stop anymore since this is a 24/7 work that will be taking place until December,” he added.

Baja California’s governor, Marina del Pilar Ávila Olmeda, highlighted the progress so far in and said she would like Mexico’s president, Andrés Manuel López Obrador, to inaugurate the site. His tenure ends at the end of 2024.

In 2022, López Obrador included the Otay Mesa project under an infrastructure plan to reactivate the economy.