4baja - 9-20-2006 at 06:23 AM
what is the reason why the wait is getting so much longer there now? are more people diverting from tiajuana and mexicali and going there or just more
people from tecate crossing there. my usual wait there is 1 to 1 1/2 hours but i have been hearing reports of up 3 hours now. i like toweing my boat
north through there for it has been a much easyer crossing.
surfer jim - 9-20-2006 at 07:58 AM
Good question....I was going to post something on that issue also....I seldom use it but sometimes just like the change from the usual mess....
elgatoloco - 9-20-2006 at 08:10 AM
Me thinks the population of Baja Norte has skyrocketed in the last 5-10 years and overwhelmed the infrastructure in general and the border crossings
in particular coupled with increased tourist visits along with stepped up security measures.
p + i x s = arrrgggghhh
Prior to getting SENTRI, I can recall 5-6 years ago being able to shoot over to Otay Mesa on a northbound Sunday and have a 15 minute wait. No Mas.
Call or write your congressperson.
DENNIS - 9-20-2006 at 08:14 AM
Tecate has gotten worse although there are times during the day when traffic isnt so heavy. I've been crossing there recently and it seems that
around 10 AM, there is a 20 to 30 minute wait. That doesn't mean that it's always like that, just my experience. The weekends at Tecate have slowed
as well.
This doesn't mean much , certainly not a trend but, yesterday my buddy got to Tecate around 9:30 A.M. and had a two minute wait. Deja vu, for sure.
DENNIS - 9-20-2006 at 08:20 AM
Population has exploded, for sure, and in that time the Tecate crossing has been rebuilt but still has only two lanes with the truck traffic crossing
through. I mean, insane. I cant for the life of me understand why they have to have these crossings right in town, with all of the empty space
available along the border.
bajabound2005 - 9-20-2006 at 10:40 AM
So if we are going to cross on a Friday around noon what the recommended crossing? San Ysidro, Otay or Tecate?
DENNIS - 9-20-2006 at 10:59 AM
Tecate would be my choice, even if it's out of the way.
Baja Bernie - 9-20-2006 at 11:33 AM
And the ride from San Miguel is a nice ride (mex3)
DENNIS - 9-20-2006 at 01:20 PM
Bajabound ----
Have you been through Tecate since they rebuilt the gates? If not, it's different. Let me know and I can help you with directions.
Dennis
bajabound2005 - 9-20-2006 at 03:41 PM
Never been through Tecate!
DENNIS - 9-20-2006 at 04:26 PM
First thing you'll see when entering Tecate is McDonalds.
Pass McDonalds, immediatly turn right.
Go straight, through one lighted intersection, for about 3/4 mile.
The road easily winds into an area with lots of trees and a stop sign.
Proceed in the left lane about 100 yards to another stop sign.
Turn left.
Thats it. You're in the chute and cant get out of it.
The road goes up a hill, down the other side to the gate.
Where the end of the line is, ....... well .....
That hill road is two lanes. Stay in the right lane.
Have a good trip
DENNIS - 9-20-2006 at 04:31 PM
Forget to mention, if, for some reason the traffic is backed up bad, you will see this from that last stop sign. You have to find the back of that
line, wherever it may be.
frizkie - 9-20-2006 at 07:12 PM
I take it you mean when you're headed North? Right?
bajabound2005 - 9-20-2006 at 07:37 PM
si, si, norte!
been there, done that, got a red t-shirt
flyboy - 9-21-2006 at 08:58 AM
a couple of weeks ago I went thru 'new' Tecate with my MH and a Jeep in tow.
1. Lesson
If you tow something or stick shift AND traffic is backed up to the foot of the hill, you gonna be screwed. Inch'ing traffic uphill will greatly
shorten your torque converter, clutch and/or cooling of your engine.
2. Lesson
MH, RV's and busses MUST turn into the LEFT entrance gate AFTER passing the stop sign. I really don't understand why a MH towing something has to
undergo this ordeal. Not only I had to squeeze my 40 fter thru those poles (while blocking the ENTIRE scene to get across the stop sign), in addition
you need to swing into an inspection area after the check both.
Why not open the truck lane for trailers, busses and MH?
Yes, the wait at Tecate is 50% of SY or OM. But what you gain in time you'll loose by driving the curly 94.
My first choice of crossing is OM. The approach is straight forward and I don't have the 'dog fights' for lanes (San Ysidro).
Cheerio
Will
David K - 9-21-2006 at 09:18 AM
In my case (Sunday afternoons), Otay Mesa wait is 50% of Tecate (the last couple of times at Tecate)!
Tecate (new) still is only TWO crossing gates! HOW DUMB WAS THAT!???