Design and Construction Report staff writer
Guy F. Atkinson Construction and Clark Water have started construction on the Otay Mesa East Port of Entry, a new facility designed to enhance trade between California and Mexico, create jobs, and reduce border congestion. The project is part of a broader effort to strengthen California’s economy and improve public safety through a new initiative targeting transnational criminal activity.
“We’re making smart investments in infrastructure and security to grow California’s economy while keeping our communities safe,” Newsom said. “This new port will speed up trade, reduce costs for consumers, and create jobs, all while expanding our efforts to curb the flow of weapons and drugs that fuel cartel violence.”
The new Otay Mesa East Port of Entry, located in the San Diego-Tijuana region, will ease congestion at current border crossings, cutting wait times for trucks and cars and increasing the efficiency of cross-border trade. This comes as trade between California and Mexico topped $88 billion in 2023. Mexico is California’s largest export market and second-largest source of imports, with $33.3 billion in exports and $61.5 billion in imports last year.
“Reducing delays will improve business productivity, cut costs, and help our economy grow,” said Jerry Sanders, president and CEO of the San Diego Regional Chamber of Commerce. “This is a crucial project for both sides of the border.”
The port is expected to cut wait times by up to 50%, improving the movement of goods and easing congestion that currently forces trucks to idle for hours at existing crossings.
Newsom also announced the expansion of a public safety initiative led by the California National Guard (CalGuard), aimed at curbing the flow of drugs, firearms, and cash that fuel cartel violence. The initiative is a continuation of the state’s efforts to combat fentanyl trafficking, which has become a major crisis.
“The California National Guard is critical in the fight against fentanyl, and now, we’re expanding our efforts to disrupt the financial networks that fuel cartel violence,” said Maj. Gen. Matthew Beevers, adjutant general of CalGuard.
CalGuard will increase its role in supporting federal agencies by targeting the illegal flow of weapons and money into Mexico, helping reduce the criminal activity that contributes to migration and violence on both sides of the border. A significant portion of firearms recovered in Mexico come from the U.S., according to the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
The Otay Mesa East Port of Entry is part of a broader effort to enhance California’s trade relationships with Mexico. Trade between California and Mexico has a massive impact on both economies, supporting nearly 5 million jobs in the U.S. alone.
Newsom’s administration has committed $480 million to the project, with an additional $140 million in federal funds from the Transportation and Community Enhancement Program (TCEP). The new port is expected to significantly reduce congestion, lower pollution, and create thousands of jobs in the region.
“This new crossing will not only enhance goods movement but will also reduce air pollution in the San Diego-Tijuana region,” said Toks Omishakin, secretary of the California State Transportation Agency.
The Governor’s initiative to enhance border security is part of a broader effort to protect communities from illegal drugs and weapons. In June, Newsom increased CalGuard’s Counterdrug Task Force by more than 150 personnel, focused on combating fentanyl trafficking. Last year, CalGuard seized more than 62,000 pounds of fentanyl statewide.
This initiative will continue to support U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agents, giving them additional resources to identify trafficking vehicles. The Governor has also requested a military partnership with Mexico under the federal State Partnership Program to enhance cooperation between the two nations’ security forces.
The Otay Mesa East Port of Entry and the expanded CalGuard initiative are part of Newsom’s ongoing commitment to strengthening California’s economy while ensuring public safety. These efforts demonstrate how infrastructure investments and strategic partnerships with Mexico and federal agencies can drive economic growth and security for both nations.
For more information on the Otay Mesa East Port of Entry, visit build.ca.gov.
