BajaNomad - San Ysidro Border Crossing Today, Jan 9

San Ysidro Border Crossing Today, Jan 9

Gypsy Jan - 1-9-2010 at 06:31 PM

Joined the line going to the U.S. at 1 pm. Thirty minute wait.

Coming south headed home at 4 pm, there was a back up. Several "Customs" labeled pickup trucks and a CHP patrol car were blocking the farthest left lane, the one that allows a U-turn back to the north. In spite of that, it only took about ten-fifteen minutes to cross. All the new red/green - go/stop lights seem to be working. Not very many vehicles over in Mexican secondary.

k-rico - 1-9-2010 at 07:17 PM

Were they using tandem inspection booths northbound? There was a report they are doing that. It's in the plans that it will someday be SOP as they rebuild and expand the crossing.

No, No New Changes

Gypsy Jan - 1-9-2010 at 07:30 PM

And no signs of new construction.

The only odd thing was that the big billboard that stands above the booths with the warnings about declaring what you are bringing from Mexico and that you must declare money in xx amounts, etc., had a notice that you "MUST turn off all cellphones as you approach the gate."

So when we reached the gate, we asked the nice, friendly Homeland Security lady about this and she said, "Well, many times people are so busy talking on their phone that they ignore us and our questions."

I immediately had a flashback to the several times I have seen Mexican men standing in the sanitary napkins aisle at Wal-Mart with a phone pressed to their ear, trying to figure just what brand or size of product that they are supposed to bring home to the ladies.

noproblemo2 - 1-9-2010 at 08:18 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Gypsy Jan
And no signs of new construction.

I immediately had a flashback to the several times I have seen Mexican men standing in the sanitary napkins aisle at Wal-Mart with a phone pressed to their ear, trying to figure just what brand or size of product that they are supposed to bring home to the ladies.

OMG, GJ, you've just given me the BEST laugh of the day!!!! :lol:

Went over and Back today

The Gull - 1-9-2010 at 09:05 PM

No problem either direction.

Big hint: the far left lane going into Mexico does not have an operating red-green light. Everyone went thru today without risk.

That mess at the intersection of the "scenic highway" and Playas de TJ is getting worse. So confusing and the lanes are not used correctly by anyone. One can easily find themselves in a head-on collision.

One of My Life Goals

Gypsy Jan - 1-9-2010 at 09:05 PM

Is to bring a little bit more giggle into the Nomad's days.

But, straight up, it is a first person report.

I am grateful that the nice Homeland Security agent brought up the memory; usually I am too crazy-cranky just trying to go through my list at Wal-Mess.

Crossing at TJ?

Bomberro - 1-10-2010 at 07:27 PM

We had a terrible time last year going from the toll road to the TJ border crossing. Got to the place where we used to stop at the signal make left turn and immediate right into the ramp up to the border crossing and found it blocked off with concrete barrier! We went by and ended up on a major highway going East! Took us quite a while to get turned around and back, how does on cross from the toll road and get into the North lanes at the Tijuana crossing?

[Edited on 1-11-2010 by Bomberro]

wessongroup - 1-10-2010 at 07:38 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by The Gull
No problem either direction.

Big hint: the far left lane going into Mexico does not have an operating red-green light. Everyone went thru today without risk.

That mess at the intersection of the "scenic highway" and Playas de TJ is getting worse. So confusing and the lanes are not used correctly by anyone. One can easily find themselves in a head-on collision.

wife just got back a couple of days ago, and I had to "draw" a diagram to understand how the heck they were routing traffic at that junction.. it's a rather unique approach to traffic flow "control"..

Udo - 1-10-2010 at 07:48 PM

The easiest crossings to find are at Tecate and Otay Mesa. Especially now that there is all the construction at the toll road rear Tijuana.

Bomberro - 1-11-2010 at 06:19 AM

Thanks Bajaguy for the u2u, your effort to help will be so great as we actually get to cross at Otay Mesa! Tecate is quite a bit out of the way.

wessongroup - 1-11-2010 at 06:23 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Bomberro
Thanks Bajaguy for the u2u, your effort to help will be so great as we actually get to cross at Otay Mesa! Tecate is quite a bit out of the way.

Ditto's

bajabass - 1-11-2010 at 09:34 AM

As you come off the toll road northbound, if you continue straight through town, you cross Revolution and go straight into line. Does anybody else go this way. I usually hit one or two lights on the way through downtown. the last mile is one way traffic. It has been the easist, most direct route I have found, and I hate the river road.

Cyanide41 - 1-11-2010 at 09:50 AM

I crossed headed south at Otay yesterday at about 3pm and it was EMPTY in BOTH directions. I was surprised that the NB line was so short.

k-rico - 1-11-2010 at 11:38 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by bajabass
As you come off the toll road northbound, if you continue straight through town, you cross Revolution and go straight into line. Does anybody else go this way. I usually hit one or two lights on the way through downtown. the last mile is one way traffic. It has been the easist, most direct route I have found, and I hate the river road.

I always go that way, see my posts here:

http://forums.bajanomad.com/viewthread.php?tid=43569&pag...

bajabass - 1-11-2010 at 01:49 PM

Hey, let's not tell everybody! Oops, too late :biggrin:

It is the easiest, most direct route for sure! Early Sunday am you almost go straight to a booth. If the line is longer, later in the day, it is easy to jump out, go up and to the right, and jump into line. I have gotten pretty good at finding the fastest ways through for conditions.