Leaders and dignitaries from both sides of the U.S. and Mexico border held a symbolic groundbreaking for a project over two decades in the making: the Otay East Port of Entry also known as Otay Two.
Toks Omishakin, California’s Secretary of Transportation kicked off the event remarking that this milestone was joyous.
"Celebrate, and that’s what we’re here to do this morning, celebrate right?" Omishakin said.
The $1.5 billion dollar binational project has brought together federal, state, regional and local stakeholders on both sides of the border.
"When this project is complete it will provide economic benefits, reduce carbon emissions for so many in the Tijuana-San Diego region," Omishakin said. "This project is a vital link in strengthening the nation's supply chain as well, and creating thousands of jobs not just in the local region but across the United States and Mexico. The State Route 11 Otay Mesa East Mesa project is indispensable to this nation."
The four-lane toll road will connect to a customs, border patrol and California Highway Patrol commercial facility.
California’s Lieutenant Governor Eleni Kounalakis said the region needs another border crossing to help ease wait times.
"It is estimated that the increasing wait times cost the United States and Mexico a combined $3.4 billion dollars in annual economic output and more than 88 thousand jobs," She said. "In addition to that trucks idling at the border also contribute significant greenhouse gas emissions which damage the environment and the health of those who live in the region."
The San Diego Association of Governments estimates that without the new crossing commercial truck wait times will be over 6 hours but with the new crossing's lane management technology, waits will be reduced to 40 minutes.
San Diego's Mayor pointed out it is not just another border crossing, it is about neighbors, friends and the environment.
"It’s over 150,000 people who regularly cross and what they often face now are unpredictable wait time it could be a couple of hours," Todd Gloria said. "That is really a diminishment of the quality of life and those vehicles are sitting there idling putting carbon into our atmosphere that is changing our climate and we’re degrading the thing that makes us so special."
"I was that little girl that crossed the border everyday to go to high school," said Nora Vargas, the Vice Chair of the Board of Supervisors.
She represents the district around the border.
Vargas remembers the difficulties her family faced when they crossed the border for school or work and she wants to make it better.
"When you’re making those sacrifices as a U.S. citizen," Vargas said. "Having to wait to be able to go to school and to have a good quality of life and that’s what we’re trying to do and that’s what we’re trying to do right and so we’re going to change that for folks."
Construction of the new project is set to be completed by September 2024.
KPBS border reporter Gustavo Solis joined Midday Edition on Monday with more details on the new crossing. Listen to the interview.
