Senator Barbara Boxer paid a visit to Otay Mesa today to see the project to expand Route 905, which received $74 million in stimulus funding.
The expansion of Route 905, which is right next to the Mexican border, is being done to improve border trade with Mexico. Thousands of trucks cross the border at the Otay Mesa point of entry, and they rely on Routes 905 and 125 to move their goods. But Boxer spent much of her time talking about the construction jobs created by the highway project.
"And as I see these trucks moving, all of us are so happy to see this project come alive," she said. "And I know that it wouldn't have come alive without the stimulus funding."
Boxer's appearance came after the Associated Press reported that stimulus spending on roads and bridges has had little or no effect on local unemployment rates. Boxer responded by saying the Route 905 project has put people to work. CALTRANS estimates the project will create up to 1,400 new jobs.
