SAN DIEGO (Border Report) — An elevated border highway in Tijuana will open in stages, but its completion date remains uncertain.
Construction began two years ago and it was supposed to be done by now. The highway link the city’s coastal neighborhoods to Tijuana’s airport, allowing drivers to bypass the San Ysidro Port of Entry and busy downtown areas.
“The first phase will be inaugurated in December depending on the weather,” said Arturo Espinoza Jaramillo, Baja California’s Secretary of Infrastructure and Urban Development.
This first portion to open will take motorists from the coast to just shy of downtown Tijuana.
According to Espinoza Jaramillo, the entire project is about 95 percent complete with many support columns yet to be finished.
“We’re pouring superior concrete and this slows down the process,” he said. “As we cross the river, there are still some pieces left to be built.”
He also said one of the major tunnels is already finished and only needs the industrial ventilation system to be installed.
“We’re also trying to build a park in one area below the highway as proposed by the state,” he said. “There are some areas where water is an issue, you can’t impede water, we need to maintain its natural flow.”
The elevated highway project is expected to cost more than $1 billion.
Delays are attributed to issues such as land-ownership disputes, the need to relocate underground utilities, and difficult terrain.
The project is currently targeting a completion date of late 2026.