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Otay crossing

rayfornario - 9-5-2007 at 09:15 AM

I have to go to a wedding in Calafia next weekend. In order to avoid traffic on Monday morning (about 11:00am)I was thinking about using the Otay Border crossing to come home. What is the easiest way of getting there from Calafia and is it generally quicker then the TJ crossing at the time we will be using it
Thanks

fdt - 9-5-2007 at 09:17 AM

From personal experience, Otay is always slower than San Ysidro.

Bob and Susan - 9-5-2007 at 09:28 AM

that's what i think too...but...

the ramp to the border MAY be blocked and you get rerouted to otay anyway

2 weeks ago on a friday night about 5PM wait was 1 hr at TJ

fdt - 9-5-2007 at 09:51 AM

Most people think that,but you never get rerouted to Otay, just the downtown entrance gets blocked and you have to take the Cultural Center way.

rayfornario - 9-5-2007 at 09:56 AM

Why would the ramp to TJ be blocked? Everytime we come back on a late Monday morning, it always seems like a 1 1/2 hour wait. I assumed Otay woul be a bit quicker but I am not to sure of the way to get there.

bajabound2005 - 9-5-2007 at 09:58 AM

We crossed at Otay last Monday 8/27) morning ~ 10 a.m.; about a 3 minute, yes, three minute wait.

rayfornario - 9-5-2007 at 10:00 AM

Great! How do I get to that crossing from Rosarita?

Bob and Susan - 9-5-2007 at 10:01 AM

the police block the ramp when it get too busy...

then you have to go down a couple of blocks and come thru town...

then the block that road too if too busy

then yo get the tour of tj :lol:

from califa you might take the Blvd 2000 north to otay
but it won't be faster

rayfornario - 9-5-2007 at 10:04 AM

I think that is what happened the last time and I got so confused that I ended up on Revelucion Blvd!!!
I heard that they had a freeway that went straight there. Is there a place has a decent roadmap?

bajabound2005 - 9-5-2007 at 10:16 AM

Take the free road to Popotla. You'll come to a stop sign. There will be ONE sign and one sign only instructing you to turn east for Mexicali. That road is Blvd 2000. Take Blvd 2000 (2 lanes each direction, no tolls). You cross through the hills. When you start seeing buildings and more traffic - slow down. Watch the speed signs (lots of cops). Continue through this very scenic part of TJ until you come to a sign that indicates the toll road for Mexicali/Tecate is 1km ahead. There is an exit just before that and it says San Diego/TJ. Take that exit and continue on. You'll come to a part of town with lots of big warehouse type buildings. The road is now Blvd Industrial. Continue as far as you can until forced to turn right (due to construction). Take that right about 3 blocks up to a major street (even has street signs), which is Bellas Artes. Turn left onto Bellas Artes. It's another 6 blocks or so to the on ramp to the border crossing. On your right there is an OXXO store, then a car wash, then the ramp. You'll see the overpass going over Bellas Artes. Take the ramp up to the border crossing. Buena suerte!

rayfornario - 9-5-2007 at 11:16 AM

Thanks, Appreciate it!
Ray :cool:

rayfornario - 9-5-2007 at 11:20 AM

By the way, the free road to Popotla....is that north of Rosarita or south of town?

Bob and Susan - 9-5-2007 at 12:19 PM

south

rayfornario - 9-5-2007 at 12:24 PM

thanks again!: :tumble:

AVOID TIJUANA! (as much as possible)

David K - 9-5-2007 at 04:19 PM

The route you want to consider is the Blvd. 2000 (BC 201) which is a free highway from near the Otay Border to Popotla (Fox Baja Studios/ Foxploration) on the free road... as reported by bajabound2005.

Please see photos of this road, along with a satellite map of the route and a road log I made recently and is on the Baja Nomad Road Conditions Forum: http://forums.bajanomad.com/viewthread.php?tid=24396

msteve1014 - 9-5-2007 at 04:42 PM

could someone explain, in detail, how to get to the TJ crossing after they have closed the normal route you would take from the toll road. I have diven around in circles many times, and then ended up at Otay with a long wait.

The Gull - 9-5-2007 at 05:06 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by rayfornario
By the way, the free road to Popotla....is that north of Rosarita or south of town?

Potpotla is south of Playas de Rosarito. There is no town named Rosarita, on the coast near the border. Maybe some canned mashed pinto beans have been named Rosarita.

The Gull - 9-5-2007 at 05:07 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by msteve1014
could someone explain, in detail, how to get to the TJ crossing after they have closed the normal route you would take from the toll road. I have diven around in circles many times, and then ended up at Otay with a long wait.

Normal?

The Gull - 9-5-2007 at 05:09 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by David K
The route you want to consider is the Blvd. 2000 (BC 201) which is a free highway from near the Otay Border to Popotla (Fox Baja Studios/ Foxploration) on the free road... as reported by bajabound2005.

Please see photos of this road, along with a satellite map of the route and a road log I made recently and is on the Baja Nomad Road Conditions Forum: http://forums.bajanomad.com/viewthread.php?tid=24396

DK, you know that is not nice. Otay is not better

David K - 9-5-2007 at 05:16 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by The Gull

Quote:

DK, you know that is not nice. Otay is not better

LOL... yes Gull, you are right... But, there are no secrets among friends, right?

By the way, were you the 'gull' on Fred's BBS in the Abreojos thread?

msteve1014 - 9-5-2007 at 05:20 PM

the ramp they close when traffic starts to back up, as bob and susan explained. how do you cross when you come up fron rosarita? is that where they make those great beans? i love them.

rayfornario - 9-5-2007 at 07:53 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by msteve1014
the ramp they close when traffic starts to back up, as bob and susan explained. how do you cross when you come up fron rosarita? is that where they make those great beans? i love them.

OK,OK,OK!!!!! I should have checked my spelling...I know it is Rosarito!!!! :lol:

David K - 9-5-2007 at 07:58 PM

More Baja Spell Checkers on Nomad??? :bounce:

fdt - 9-5-2007 at 08:31 PM

Ok, here it is, if you were to get re directed or they have blocked it off because of traffic.

Just kkep going as they indicated (Note: They do not indicate go to Otay), just go to the cultural center and make a right

If that is blocked off, go to the next one at Plaza Rio. Just keep attempting to make a right.
We use Otay only if there are 500 cars waiting in San Ysidro and only 50 at Otay, other than that it's always better in San Ysidro and I am so convinced of that, that if I was comming from the new Blvd 2000 I would go down to San Ysidro instead of Otay, if you need a map for that, just let me know, they are only $1 dolar a piece :tumble:

[Edited on 9-6-2007 by fdt]

No, DK wasn't me

The Gull - 9-6-2007 at 06:46 AM

There is but one.

Can I interest you in a can of mashed pinto beans?

rayfornario - 9-6-2007 at 11:33 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by The Gull
There is but one.

Can I interest you in a can of mashed pinto beans?

rayfornario - 9-6-2007 at 11:35 AM

Thanks for the maps, they are a big help. I hear that there is a way of getting the wait times at the border if you down in Mexico. Is there a way to find out which is quicker before you get to any particular crossing?

rayfornario - 9-6-2007 at 11:39 AM

By the way, everytime I come back from Rosarito on the toll road , I always get screwed up trying to find the San Ysidro crossing and end up in downtown TJ. Where am I making the wrong turn, is at that circle coming from La Playa? :?:

DENNIS - 9-6-2007 at 12:04 PM

If you stay on the Toll Road, over the hill and down through town on Second Ave., you will run right into the lanes that put you right into it. Pay attention to the signs if you dare take your eyes off traffic.

rayfornario - 9-6-2007 at 12:47 PM

I must have been watching the traffic!!! I always wonder why the signage isn't better in Mexico(in general) :biggrin:

How's that Again ?

MrBillM - 9-6-2007 at 01:10 PM

One need never feel badly about incorrectly spelling a Mexican town name. I've seen more than a few "official" government signage that does the same. Some of them remain up for years.

Waste not, want not, I guess.

DENNIS - 9-6-2007 at 01:18 PM

As in, "Mission Viejo"?

Otay 2

fdt - 9-6-2007 at 01:23 PM

A new Otay crossing for 2009?
http://www.frontera.info/EdicionEnLinea/Notas/Noticias/06092...

DENNIS - 9-6-2007 at 01:28 PM

We can only hope.
We can also hope that the same brain-trust that designed the new Tecate crossing won't be involved with this one. Otherwise, we may see thirty lanes fighting to get through one gate.

The Gull - 9-6-2007 at 03:30 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by rayfornario
I must have been watching the traffic!!! I always wonder why the signage isn't better in Mexico(in general) :biggrin:

From Rosarita, just follow the signs to Son Diega. They are in Inglish for visitors.

If you desire better signage in Mexico, just write to Mexico City to the president of the country. He will want to make every effort to make Mexico more accomodating for you.

msteve1014 - 9-6-2007 at 04:27 PM

thanks Fernando, a picture is worth a thousand words. in spanish or english.

DENNIS - 9-6-2007 at 04:29 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by The Gull

From Rosarita, just follow the signs to Son Diega. They are in Inglish for visitors.

Nice, gull.......very helpful.

bajabound2005 - 9-6-2007 at 04:39 PM

Today at 1:00: wait at SY 90 minutes; at OM 10 minutes.

The Gull - 9-6-2007 at 06:42 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by DENNIS
Nice, gull.......very helpful.

Thanks for the unsolicited compliment.

DENNIS - 9-6-2007 at 06:46 PM

Say's who, K..? If you're going by the US Customs website, you will always be disillusioned. They tell you what they want you to know, rarely accurate. Did you ever meet one at the gate that had a foremost concern for your convenience?

DENNIS - 9-6-2007 at 06:48 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by The Gull

Thanks for the unsolicited compliment.

No, no, no. You can only pick one.

bajabound2005 - 9-6-2007 at 06:48 PM

KOGO 600 AM on the radio...I NEVER look at the Customs website...

DENNIS - 9-6-2007 at 06:51 PM

KOGO does. I've cross checked it in the past.

bajabound2005 - 9-6-2007 at 07:00 PM

KOGO does what? Either way, we crossed Monday 8/27 at 10 am at Otay and there were in front of us...2 cars? And, yes, this one the REGULAR lanes!

fandango - 9-7-2007 at 09:04 AM

does KOGO provide wait times for the border on the hour?

rayfornario - 9-7-2007 at 06:51 PM

I got some great info plus good directions to Otay. Love this website!

DENNIS - 9-7-2007 at 07:21 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by fandango
does KOGO provide wait times for the border on the hour?

It starts on a ten minute basis at five AM. Traffic on the tens, they call it. It is so unreliable. I've been in line at the SY border for as long as an hour and Kogo will report a twenty minute wait. This wasn't only once. They evidently get their info from the US Customs website which reported last Friday, the day of the teachers roadblock, that there was a fifteen minute wait long after the border was blocked and closed.
Take it for what it's worth.

Your question? They only do this for an hour, if I recall.

[Edited on 9-8-2007 by DENNIS]

fandango - 9-8-2007 at 11:36 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by DENNIS

Quote:

Originally posted by fandango
does KOGO provide wait times for the border on the hour?

It starts on a ten minute basis at five AM. Traffic on the tens, they call it. It is so unreliable. Your question? They only do this for an hour, if I recall.

[Edited on 9-8-2007 by DENNIS]

this must be set up for commuters then. any other radio station that offers border wait times throughout the day?

first time i used the "quote" and "edit", i must be professionally qualified now.

[Edited on 9-8-2007 by fandango]