BajaNomad

NEW SENTRI crossing at Calexico East Gate

CortezBlue - 11-29-2010 at 07:41 AM

Ok, so I was able to use the NEW SENTRI lane at Calexico east. When we got to the area, maybe about 1 mile from the entry, the traffic was backed up past the 4 way stop. Probably about a 2 to 3 hour wait.
So I cruised past all of the traffic and got to the left turn area and was able to pull in front of a bus. Man the horns started blowing, and didn't stop. One of the traffic cops that was controlling the traffic flow cam to my window. I flashed my sentri cards and she very nicely pointed me towards the sentri lane and away we went. Afterwards, my son mentioned to me that, there were 2 left turn lanes. So I am assuming that in the future I will just go to the front and stay in the right side left turn lane.

We also dropped of my son and his girlfriend just before the check station to walk across. However, DON'T try to pick them up close to the pedestrian area. We were busted and had to go back through secondary to be re-checked. The best thing to do is pick them up near the entrance, just past secondary.

Hope this helps

akshadow - 11-29-2010 at 11:35 AM

Is the sentri lane on the left side or right side of the lanes over the bridge, since this is not very clear to me. Would it be better to be on the highway heading toward Mexicali to enter the sentri lane as a right turn?
Thanks for any information

CortezBlue - 11-29-2010 at 06:34 PM

It is confusing.

So the SENTRI lane is on the far left, however, when you are in the left turn lane on the east west road, you have to be on the right side of the left turn lane and then, I am sure, motion to the traffic cops to let you across the traffic to get in the far left lane.

Hope that helps

desertcpl - 11-29-2010 at 06:54 PM

you didnt tell us after you got into the sentri lane how long it took you,, and why did you drop your son off to walk across?

do they have sentri lanes now in San Luis

nbacc - 11-29-2010 at 08:10 PM

Better to enter so you go right into the left lane. I would go and make a U turn if you were coming from the other direction. Makikng it over to the left hand lane for sentri would be a real hastle. Could be done but again a pain in the neck as there are so many cars waiting. We were there (not sentri) VERY early on the Sunday before Thanksgiving and it was a long two hour wait. We watched the sentri lane wishing we were there

CortezBlue - 11-29-2010 at 08:17 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by desertcpl
you didnt tell us after you got into the sentri lane how long it took you,, and why did you drop your son off to walk across?

do they have sentri lanes now in San Luis


There was one car in front of me, and he ended up stopping, grabbing a mexican vendor to block the traffic and he sneaked into the normal lane.
Other than that it was 1 or 2 minutes.

bajalou - 11-29-2010 at 08:53 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by desertcpl
you didnt tell us after you got into the sentri lane how long it took you,, and why did you drop your son off to walk across?

do they have sentri lanes now in San Luis


All persons in the car using the Sentri lane have to be cleared to use it. Probably his son didn't have the Sentri clearance.

CortezBlue - 11-30-2010 at 07:41 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by bajalou
Quote:
Originally posted by desertcpl
you didnt tell us after you got into the sentri lane how long it took you,, and why did you drop your son off to walk across?

do they have sentri lanes now in San Luis


All persons in the car using the Sentri lane have to be cleared to use it. Probably his son didn't have the Sentri clearance.


Sorry I didn't read the whole question. Yes, my son and his girl friend did not have SENTRI and they can't be in the car when you cross.