In a press release on Monday, congressman and San Diego mayor-elect Bob Filner asks the U.S. General Services Administration to advocate for funding on new construction for U.S. side of the San Ysidro port of entry.
“The San Ysidro port of entry is the world’s busiest land port, serving more than 50,000 vehicles and 25,000 pedestrians every day. We leave billions of dollars in commerce on the table every year due to an inefficient border,” said Filner.
The U.S. still waits on funds from Congress to expand the San Diego side of the port of entry.
For now, because the Mexicans have already completed their expansion project south of the border, drivers heading south on Interstate 5 are being rerouted with a sharp right turn off the freeway. Business leaders and commuters fear this temporary detour will create the same kind of gridlock that the new port of entry is supposed to solve.