Community concerned over traffic changes due to new port of entry

Calexico community came out to learn about the new port of entry and how it’s going to affect them.

Calexico held a series of workshops on Thursday to inform the public how the new downtown west port of entry will affect vehicular traffic.

Imperial County Transportation Commission Spokesperson Virginia Mendoza said, “We are rerouting the traffic in order to accommodate the opening of southbound gates into the federal facility which is anticipated to come online on the 10 th .”

20,000 vehicles and 12,000 pedestrians cross northbound daily through the Calexico downtown port of entry.

The new port of entry located at Second Street and Cesar Chavez Boulevard will have 16 northbound lanes and 5 southbound lanes as part of phase one of the project.

During the workshops held at Carmen Durazo Cultural Arts Center, local merchants said they’re concerned about the impact.

Salvador Ayala, merchant at Gran Plaza Outlets, said, “Yes, we are. And when I say we are, it’s because it’s not only me. I manage a store but other people and corporations there are not sure what’s going to happen with all these changes that we’re going to face in the following months. We have a dependency between the people that cross the border every single day in our businesses.”

Some community members said the new facility would be a good thing for travelers.

Victor Carrillo, former Calexico city mayor and former district supervisor, said, “Should have greater access and an easier flow and improved efficacy of vehicle movement.”

He added that it may not be good for some businesses.

“People won’t be traveling into Calexico to the downtown area to do their shopping. A lot of merchants have complained that vehicular traffic with shoppers is not coming into the downtown area because of the congestion at imperial avenue as it is today,” Carrillo said.

Northbound traffic begins September first.

Caltrans official Beth Landrum said, “When Cesar Chavez Boulevard is completely constructed, which we expect the widening project to be complete in the spring of 2019, Cesar Chavez Boulevard will then serve as the direct access for both northbound and southbound traffic to the port of entry.”

Phase two involves renovating the old port of entry for pedestrians. It’s not funded yet. Phase one, involving the rerouting of vehicular traffic doesn’t affect pedestrians, which will continue using the old downtown port of entry.

Southbound traffic will continue using N. Imperial Avenue until improvements on Cesar Chavez are complete. City officials said whether good or bad, the new port of entry and traffic rerouting is a necessary thing.

For more information regarding the construction project or the traffic rerouting, please contact Imperial County Transportation Commission Virginia Mendoza at (760) 592-4494.