hotairdon - 3-25-2009 at 08:31 PM
At El Cid, Ensenada tonight, like to try Otay Mesa crossing northbound tomorrow for first time. Did the 'search', please confirm: from Fox
Studios/Popotia head north on Blvd 2000 (BC201), following signs, and turn west on Blvd Industrial then right toward Garita De Otay? Is it well sign
posted all the way now? Thanks in advance, Don
bajabound2005 - 3-25-2009 at 08:39 PM
Yes. You going to regular crossing or SENTRI? Lots of NEW signs will take you straight to border for regular lanes.
hotairdon - 3-25-2009 at 08:42 PM
Regular, thank you. Don
estebanis - 3-25-2009 at 09:02 PM
There is no off ramp from the Toll road yet. So get off at Puerto Nuevo and take the free road north for about 7 miles then make a right on Blvd 2000
and go under the toll road. The exit for Industrial Blvd is around 25 miles and well signed.
Esteban
bajabound2005 - 3-25-2009 at 09:19 PM
It's well signed, but does NOT say Industrial Blvd -- it says San Diego and something else. THere are those bumpy things in the road (lots of them)
just before the exit that will take you to Industrial Blvd; just before the toll road to Tecate/Mexicali.
Airport! I think the signs are San Diego/Tijuana and Airport.
[Edited on 3-26-2009 by bajabound2005]
Bajahowodd - 3-25-2009 at 11:48 PM
With the signage, if you miss it, you've had too many Tecates.
dianaji - 3-25-2009 at 11:59 PM
i'd like to try that exit...however, it only took 35 minutes at san ysidro this tuesday at 4:30. ..and the officer actually smiled at me! also, when
i was entering mexico i looked across to the other side and there was NO LINE AT ALL! and i had the forbidden cheese in my cooler. good thing i
didn't tell him about that, as i didn't know until today about this fact.
David K - 3-26-2009 at 08:49 AM
Garita Otay (Otay Border Gate) are the other signs pointing the way to the USA.
Photo of exit off Blvd. 2000, northbound onto 'Industrial' for the Otay border... if you missed this exit then the next thing you come to is the
Tecate Toll Highway (2-D) toll booth!
[Edited on 3-26-2009 by David K]
Well, here's how I did:
hotairdon - 3-26-2009 at 06:24 PM
At 10.50 a.m. took the Puerto Nuevo exit off the toll road, 6 miles on the free road north (watch those potholes!) to the clearly posted turn to the
right at a traffic signal onto Blvd 2000. Blvd 2000 wonderful, little traffic, 110 kph limit, at 30.6 total miles turn right onto Blvd Industrial
marked "Tijuana San Diego" as in David's image above.
Ground to halt in traffic at 32.9 total miles, two lanes merging into one lane at 33.9 total miles. Got confused here as traffic diverted, never saw
another sign, but found myself in border line at 12.30 p.m., thru border at 1:15 p.m (45 minutes). You senior nomads would have to tell me if that's a
reasonable time on a Thursday, certainly a lot of time in that 2 into 1 lane mess. Thank you all for giving me the courage to attempt this! Don
David K - 3-27-2009 at 06:08 AM
Congratulations Don! 45 minutes isn't 'bad' in today's world of border crossings...
Now, another option is to drive all the way to Tecate, have a 5 minute crossing, then drive back to San Diego!
dianaji - 3-27-2009 at 06:18 AM
david,
just to let u know, the last time i tried tecate, i was in line 1 hour! one never knows...
i'll just take my chances with san ysidro, since my last trip last week it took 35 minutes.
David K - 3-27-2009 at 07:09 AM
Yah, you're right... Tecate can be hit or miss! In fact, the longest wait I have ever had was in Tecate, in August, 2006... 3 hours (something must
have been going on)!
The last time was just 3 minutes, I think... very rare, for sure!
dianaji - 3-27-2009 at 07:13 AM
i'm thinking too many people found out it was the best way and told too many people and now it's no longer quicker...that's what happens when we let
out our secrets!