BajaNomad

Border crossing

jodiego - 4-13-2010 at 04:07 PM

I'm heading south in a couple of weeks during the middle of the day (12-2). My buddy seems to think that is a horrible time to cross at San Ysidro because there is mucho traffic backed up on the USA side. I am unaware that there are traffic jams during a weekday (specifically Monday, April 26). Am I missing something or is he misinformed.

DENNIS - 4-13-2010 at 04:43 PM

It shouldn't be too bad at that hour. A bit later, with all the returning work traffic, it can back up on the best of days.

josie - 4-13-2010 at 06:52 PM

I think it is worse at 3 to 5 in the afternoon. The only problem at noon would be if customs on the USA side is doing a search.

tjBill - 4-13-2010 at 08:14 PM

The traffic backup going south occurs around 2:30 or 3:00 pm

schwlind - 4-13-2010 at 08:19 PM

I went through at San Ysidro last Thursday... My errands in San Diego ran way too late and I couldn't head for the border until 3:45pm (I know better... as it seems to always start backing up after 3pm).

The back up was all the way to about 1-1/2 miles north of the border and took until almost 5:30p to finally cross. Not fun... and I'll never do it again... will stay in SD and cross early the next morning if I'm running that late in going south.

DENNIS - 4-14-2010 at 07:58 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by schwlind
I'll never do it again... will stay in SD and cross early the next morning


My solution as well. The day trip is a thing of the past for me. I always plan on two days even only for a trip to a real Home Depot.

durrelllrobert - 4-14-2010 at 08:27 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by schwlind


The back up was all the way to about 1-1/2 miles north of the border and took until almost 5:30p to finally cross.

and it gets a lot worse if you stop at the UETA duty free on the west side of the freeway. Backs up from the store to the first signal that you have to go straight through but because of cars coming from the west or east and making their turns there you often have to wait through 6-8 signal changes just to get through. Then you have to merge with the backed up south bound traffic which is hard to do. Last time I did this it took 2 hours to go that last mile even though I got the green light.:fire::fire:

Dave - 4-14-2010 at 08:36 AM

If I need to make a quick trip I take the motorcycle.

No waiting... Either direction...Any time. :P

Woooosh - 4-14-2010 at 12:04 PM

There's no telling when southbound traffic will be backed up right now. It used to be just the "rush hour"- but now it's hit or miss all day long. I've crossed north at 11am and seen a two mile line backed-up on southbound 805/5 so it's pretty much luck.

It really gets really bad when the US border patrol stops all the southbound traffic lanes at once and runs car-to-car looking for someone who triggered it's camera-computer system.

DENNIS - 4-14-2010 at 12:19 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by Woooosh
There's no telling when southbound traffic will be backed up right now. It used to be just the "rush hour"- but now it's hit or miss all day long. I've crossed north at 11am and seen a two mile line backed-up on southbound 805/5 so it's pretty much luck.

It really gets really bad when the US border patrol stops all the southbound traffic lanes at once and runs car-to-car looking for someone who triggered it's camera-computer system.


Car-borne day trip tourism is history. I wouldn't wait two hours in a line to my own funeral.
Wish there was a reliable radio station that would give the wait times. If they get their info from US Customs, it's pure BS and Mexico is adopting the procedures of the US.
The last thing they'll ever do is cooperate with the public.

[Edited on 4-14-2010 by DENNIS]

Woooosh - 4-14-2010 at 01:14 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by DENNIS
Quote:
Originally posted by Woooosh
There's no telling when southbound traffic will be backed up right now. It used to be just the "rush hour"- but now it's hit or miss all day long. I've crossed north at 11am and seen a two mile line backed-up on southbound 805/5 so it's pretty much luck.

It really gets really bad when the US border patrol stops all the southbound traffic lanes at once and runs car-to-car looking for someone who triggered it's camera-computer system.


Car-borne day trip tourism is history. I wouldn't wait two hours in a line to my own funeral.
Wish there was a reliable radio station that would give the wait times. If they get their info from US Customs, it's pure BS and Mexico is adopting the procedures of the US.
The last thing they'll ever do is cooperate with the public.

[Edited on 4-14-2010 by DENNIS]


Yeah, I agree. When it gets to the point you need to plan an overnight stay in San Ysidro just to cross south into Mexico- it's "Game over" for day trippers.

Bajahowodd - 4-14-2010 at 01:52 PM

I mentioned it before, that Mexico may be being pressured by the US to 'do the same thing we do to them". What I don't understand is whether anyone in an official capacity really understands what a negative affect this has on cross-border commerce. Or, just perhaps, decreasing the flow of traffic is the end game.

Agree, but...

Dave - 4-14-2010 at 03:50 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by Woooosh

When it gets to the point you need to plan an overnight stay in San Ysidro just to cross south into Mexico- it's "Game over" for day trippers.


then I could never understand why anyone would plan a day trip to Tijuana. Unless to visit relatives, what the hell for?

Cyanide41 - 4-14-2010 at 07:32 PM

If I were crossing in SY, it would be before 3pm for sure. Otay is better. If you were doing it at noon, I would think you should be ok.

Fred-o - 4-14-2010 at 08:25 PM

Came across at TJ at 1PM today (14th) and drove right up to the "green" light, and zoomed into Mexico...Free at last.... No probs on the toll road either, except it's getting to be in miserable condition in lots of places. The "free" road looks better. Last week at 2:30 pm we were backed up about 35 minutes getting across. Yes, it's builds quickly after 2pm or so.

Otay Mesa Crossing

KopolowDeNopolo - 4-17-2010 at 06:23 AM

Is the wait going North into the US at Otay Mesa generally shorter than TJ? How would one get there from Ensenada?

bajadock - 4-17-2010 at 06:50 AM

I "friend of mine" made 2 day trips from Ensenada to SD this week. No, it wasn't for Dennis' funeral.
Northbound 32 minute wait at TJ/SY right side 2PM friday.
Southbound 42 minute wait at SY/TJ I-5 right lane 5PM friday.

FYI, Southbound LEFT TWO lanes I-5 @SY/TJ now need to merge, as 2 Left gates into Mexico are still under construction. It used to be only the far left lane that caused problems for those unaware or aggressively attempting to jump ahead.

woody with a view - 4-17-2010 at 06:53 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by KopolowDeNopolo
Is the wait going North into the US at Otay Mesa generally shorter than TJ? How would one get there from Ensenada?


not worth the added time to get there, usually.

Bob and Susan - 4-17-2010 at 07:06 AM

thursday morning 6:30am...

wait to get into usa
otay 2hrs 40 min per the radio
tj over 3 hours LONG lines

to get into mex...

no line but EVERYONE got a second look
trailers and FULL cars went to secondary

why is the entry time sooo long?

i had to go to secondary for the second time in a row:o
the keep telling me its " a totally random selection"

after the dog and the inspection i asked if i should buy a lottery ticket
"maybe" was the answer

i think i'm on "the list"
since my "internet hichhiking" ride

we'll see next trip:light:

bajaguy - 4-17-2010 at 09:09 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by KopolowDeNopolo
Is the wait going North into the US at Otay Mesa generally shorter than TJ? How would one get there from Ensenada?





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