The number of northbound inspection booths at the Otay Mesa pedestrian border crossing has doubled as part of a larger $134 million expansion and modernization project, U.S. officials said this week.
The expansion from six to 12 lanes aims to ease border wait times for the Otay Mesa Port of Entry, which is used by an average of 7,500 pedestrians daily, according to U.S. Customs and Border Protection data.
Ramón Riesgo, southern border project director with the U.S. General Services istration, said the new infrastructure includes faster technology to CBP with its security mission, in addition to making the crossing more efficient.
“The technology is what will make it seamless, and we could at least double the number of people that can be processed at the port of entry,” Riesgo said.
Otay Mesa Port Director Rosa Hernández called the project’s completion “a transformative milestone.”
“Our aim is to facilitate lawful trade and travel and improve the daily life of thousands from the region who cross every day,” she said in a statement.
The Otay Mesa expansion project started in May 2020.
As part of the project, the number of lanes available to process cargo trucks entering San Diego from Mexico has increased from nine to 16.
Other improvements include the construction of a commercial annex building, as well as the relocation of the enrollment center for Trusted Traveler Programs, such as SENTRI and Global Entry, and the I-94 permit office.
The project also included a pedestrian bridge and new visitor parking and an employee parking structure, officials said.
The last stage will be repaving work on a section of Roll Drive that is used by pedestrians arriving from or heading to Mexico. It is scheduled to be completed in January.
Together, the region’s two ports of entry now have 46 lanes available to process northbound pedestrian traffic: 12 at Otay Mesa and 24 at the PedEast crossing and 10 at PedWest in San Ysidro.
However, due to staffing issues, not all lanes are always open. Border groups such as the non-profit Smart Border Coalition continue to advocate to federal authorities for additional staffing at the ports of entry.
“It is a critical issue that continues to spearhead border issues,” said its director, Joaquín Luken. “In order for us to have a more agile and secure border, more staff is needed,” he added.
Around 1 p.m. Tuesday, only half of the 12 pedestrian booths in Otay Mesa were open.
A spokesperson with CBP said that the agency continually monitors border wait times and shifts resources accordingly.
“Having these additional lanes will provide flexibility during periods of peak traffic flows. Any shifting of resources must also take into CBP’s other vital priorities, including our mission to protect public safety and national security, interdict the flow of narcotics and contraband, and facilitate lawful trade and travel,” the spokesperson added.
In 2016, the economic output loss due to border delays at the San Diego County-Baja California border was $1.96 billion, with more than 48,000 jobs lost, according to a 2021 report by the San Diego Association of Governments.
