Travelers beware: San Diego's bustling San Ysidro border crossing with Tijuana, Mexico, will be closed to southbound cars for more than two days in September.
Closures are planned that will affect tens of thousands of people who use the world’s busiest border crossing, officials confirmed Monday.
The closure is due to the final phase of the $741 million expansion of the San Ysidro Port of Entry.
Starting Saturday, Sept. 23 at 3 a.m., all cars will be barred from entering Tijuana through San Ysidro until noon on Monday, Sept. 25.
Vehicle traffic into Mexico will be rerouted to the Otay Mesa Port of Entry.
Changes will include additional northbound lines, the renovation of the historic customs house, and a new pedestrian processing building on the east side of the junction.
"You can feel the excitement among the community about the possibility of a new pedestrian inspection building on the east side of the port, which could be available from the fall of 2018," said Jill Manzi, Project Manager with US General Services Administration. "It will include 22 inspection lines as well as a roofed road to protect pedestrians in line."
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Construction will not affect pedestrians or travelers crossing into the U.S. from Mexico.
"There's really great transit options on both sides of the border," said Anthony Kleppe, the Port of Entry Program Manager with the GSA. "The pedestrian facilities which are very friendly and really convenient will be fully open and people will be able to cross as pedestrians and take transit to the port."
From September 27 to November 12, San Ysidro POE will be reopened but with only three lanes active during this period. The gate usually has six lanes.
From November 13 to May 2019, only four lanes will be open at the San Ysidro checkpoint.
