Otay Mesa LPOE Pedestrian Bridge Extension Nears Completion

June 11, 2021

Despite challenges posed by the pandemic, construction on the new northbound pedestrian bridge extension at the Otay Mesa Land Port of Entry (LPOE) has continued at a steady pace. The year-long project will offer a more direct route for northbound pedestrians walking toward the San Diego Metropolitan Transit System’s (MTS) transit center in Otay Mesa. The completion of the pedestrian bridge extension will coincide with MTS reopening and reinstating bus operations at the transit center in early September 2021.

However, the pedestrian bridge extension is just one component of the larger $134 million modernization and expansion project at the port. The existing pedestrian building will be modernized and double the number of pedestrian inspection booths from 6 to 12. This updated infrastructure is designed to reduce pedestrian processing wait times and serve as mission-enhancing modernization for the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP).

“At its core, the Otay Mesa Land Port of Entry project seeks to expand northbound pedestrian and commercial truck processing capacity and improve the mobility of people and trucks within the port,” said Region 9 PBS Project Manager Jill Manzi. 

The Otay Mesa LPOE is California’s busiest commercial port, processing more than a million trucks and over $52 billion worth of goods in 2019. For this reason, GSA acquired 9.5 additional acres of land in order to improve commercial truck traffic flow within the facility, as well as increase overall inspection capacity by installing nine new inspection booths for a total of 16. Additionally, GSA is building a dedicated plant inspection facility for the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to enhance inspection operations and better protect U.S. domestic agriculture.

“Adding these expanded facilities will have a positive impact on the region’s economy by reducing wait times for commercial trucks and pedestrians at the port,” said Region 9 Land Port of Entry Program Manager Anthony Kleppe. “GSA remains committed to constructing facilities which support CBP’s current operations and also offer federal agencies flexibility in meeting future mission requirements.”

Currently, the project is approximately 37% complete.