Traffic problems increase along Imperial Avenue in Calexico
A motorcyclist struck, fender-benders, road rage, gridlock – Calexico Police Lieutenant Gonzalo Gerardo said traffic problems are increasing along Imperial Avenue.
“It’s unbelievable the stuff that people do. You have a guy like this guy right here. He’s trying to do a turn into the farthest lane,” Gerardo said as he pointed to a driver making an illegal turn.
Tempers flare up.
“They have bumper to bumper crashes. There’s road rage. We’ve had people like get off their cars and fight each other,” Gerardo said.
Gridlock affects emergency services.
“My fire department can’t go through. My police officers can’t respond to calls. The ambulances cannot respond to calls because of the gridlock,” Gerardo said.
Only one lane is open because of construction work.
“The congestion is bad. There’s gridlock,” Gerardo said.
Calexico City Council member Bill Hodge said they are trying to get Mexicali to open more lanes on their side.
“We are very, very aware of it, and we’re very concerned,” Hodge said.
Police said that they are going to start handing out traffic citations in the hope of curbing violations.
“If you don’t listen to my traffic controllers it’s an infraction or up to a misdemeanor and you can be arrested,” Gerardo said.
He recommends drivers to start using the east port of entry to cross into Mexico.
“Over there you have more lanes open. It moves a lot quicker and faster than it is here.”
But we took a look at the alternate route and found it just as congested as the one in downtown Calexico.
