Second Border Crossing Open in Otay Mesa

A long-awaited border crossing between California and Mexico was opened Thursday by U.S. and Mexican officials who said the new port-of-entry will ease the congestion at San Ysidro and provide an economic boost to undeveloped areas on both sides of the border.

The new facility is in the Otay Mesa area of San Diego, 4 1/2 miles from the heavily used crossing at San Ysidro. Government officials and politicians from Mexico and the United States gathered on the American side to commemorate opening of the crossing first proposed 17 years ago. The American facilities were completed in April, but Mexico’s economic woes delayed the final construction of the Mexican facilities.

John Gavin, U.S. ambassador to Mexico, called the new crossing a “significant step” in strengthening the ties that bind the two countries.

The San Ysidro crossing, which opened in 1913, is the busiest border crossing in the world. More than 37 million people walked or drove through the international crossing in 1984, Gavin said.