BajaNomad - SAN YSIDRO BORDER COLLAPSE/ CLOSED to U.S.

SAN YSIDRO BORDER COLLAPSE/ CLOSED to U.S.

David K - 9-14-2011 at 11:28 AM

The roof over the inspection booths coming north into the U.S. has collapsed... the border is closed. Just on the news in San Diego.

wessongroup - 9-14-2011 at 11:29 AM

Oh boy... now that should be just great...

mtgoat666 - 9-14-2011 at 11:36 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by David K
The roof over the inspection booths coming north into the U.S. has collapsed... the border is closed. Just on the news in San Diego.

dk:
are you sure the entire sy border is closed?

David K - 9-14-2011 at 11:37 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by mtgoat666

Quote:

Originally posted by David K
The roof over the inspection booths coming north into the U.S. has collapsed... the border is closed. Just on the news in San Diego.

dk:
are you sure the entire sy border is closed?

The helicopter view on live TV was pretty clear.
=============================================

ADD:
Northbound Border Traffic Closed After Canopy Collapse
Construction Canopy Collapses On Traffic North Of San Ysidro Border Crossing

POSTED: 11:08 am PDT September 14, 2011
UPDATED: 11:35 am PDT September 14, 2011

ADD: All northbound lanes into the United States are closed. Officials are advising travelers to use the Otay Mesa border crossing.

[Edited on 9-14-2011 by David K]

DENNIS - 9-14-2011 at 11:46 AM

The US will go to any lengths to ruin tourism to Mexico. :lol:

Woooosh - 9-14-2011 at 11:52 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by DENNIS
The US will go to any lengths to ruin tourism to Mexico. :lol:

What would a simple disaster in Mexico be without a conspiracy theory. :lol:

Trueheart - 9-14-2011 at 12:03 PM

Structure Collapses On Vehicle At San Ysidro Border
.
City News Service contributed to the information in this report.

By Jose Luis Jiménez

September 14, 2011

A wooden platform or roof has collapsed onto one or more vehicles in an area under construction at the San Ysidro Port of Entry. Two people were briefly trapped following the mishap, and transported to the hospital, according to Maurice Luque, San Diego Fire Department spokesman.

Enlarge this image
David McNew / Getty Images

Above: San Ysidro border crossing

The Port of Entry has been closed, and structural engineers have been called in to investigate, said Luque.

Southbound I-5 is closed at the border, and commuters are urged to avoid the area, according to a Tweet by Caltrans.

Von - 9-14-2011 at 12:38 PM

Crazy wild~i can imagine how long that suckr is lol! I hate crossing that thing~

nbacc - 9-14-2011 at 01:20 PM

What a mess!! Glad i was not in line there. Nancy

David K - 9-14-2011 at 01:36 PM

Just talked on the phone with BajaGeoff, who was heading toward San Ysidro from Rosarito and is in the detoured traffic heading for Otay... What a mess!

wessongroup - 9-14-2011 at 01:41 PM

Talk about "closing" the border.... WOW...

BajaBlanca - 9-14-2011 at 01:43 PM

what a mess .... who woulda thunk.

Several injured in border-crossing ceiling collapse; Border closed in both directions

BajaNews - 9-14-2011 at 01:47 PM

http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/2011/sep/14/several-injur...

SAN YSIDRO — Eleven people, including a pregnant woman, were hospitalized and nearly a dozen more were being evaluated for possible injuries following the collapse of an overhead canopy on several cars at the San Ysidro border crossing Wednesday, authorities said.

The collapse of wooden panels, wooden support beams and concrete debris occurred at 10:45 a.m. on about 15 cars headed north into the U.S. from Mexico, said Maurice Luque, spokesman for the San Diego Fire-Rescue Department.

Construction workers rescued three people who were trapped in vehicles, while other motorists were able to get out on their own.

At least two people were taken to Scripps Mercy Hospital in Chula Vista with major trauma, a hospital spokesperson said. Others were taken to other hospitals with unknown injuries. The wounded included four construction workers, with one suffering from serious but not life threatening injuries.

Nearly a dozen other motorists and construction workers were being evaluated by paramedics for possible injuries, mostly complaints of breathing in dust following the collapse, Luque said.

“The damage to vehicles was significant,” Luque said. “It could have been a whole lot worse. It could have been really, really tragic.”

The incident caused traffic at the border to come to a halt. All northbound and southbound vehicle and pedestrian lanes have been shut down, and crossers are being urged to head to the Otay Mesa Port of Entry.

Interstate 5 and Interstate 805 remained open, although the line of cars heading south on I-5 backed up nearly a mile as drivers tried to get off the freeway.

Traffic south of the border was also backed up significantly.

Structural engineers were heading to the scene to assess the damage and determine how to safely remove the cars from underneath the debris.

The 50-by-50-foot area that collapsed is part of a massive $577 million reconstruction project that requires the demolition of the administration complex that sits directly over 24 lanes of northbound traffic. The first phase of the project started in June when Colorado-based Hansel Phelps Construction Co. began dismantling the structure piece by piece.

Beneath that building workers erected a suspended plywood ceiling to protect vehicles underneath the project from falling debris.

The wooden panels that collapsed were being held up by wooden support beams, and when they went down, pieces of concrete debris came with it. The incident occurred in a spot between the customs inspection booths and the secondary inspection area.

It is not been determined what caused that ceiling to collapse.

Phase 1 of the project was expected to be completed in summer 2014. The reconfigured port would then have 62 northbound booths as well as expanded processing facility and dedicated bus and express lanes.

The effects of the northbound border shutdown could be felt at the San Ysidro Swap Meet, which counts on many customers who come from Mexico.

“It’s very slow here,” manager Beatrice Galvis said. “The only people coming are from the United States.”

J.P. - 9-14-2011 at 01:48 PM

Seeing as how the country is broke maybe they should scoop up the debri and scrap the plans for the construction of their MOUMENT to INEFFICIENCY :lol:

baja1943 - 9-14-2011 at 02:54 PM

What do you expect from Hansel Phelps a Non-Union, #1 green contractor in the USA. A project built by Mexican Green Carders and engineered by Indians from India working with field engineers from southeast Asia with office workers from Acorn equal-opportunity employment placement.

Woooosh - 9-14-2011 at 02:58 PM

Thew workers called that plywood ceiling the "dance floor". Maybe there should have been a weight limit...

J.P. - 9-14-2011 at 03:58 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by baja1943
What do you expect from Hansel Phelps a Non-Union, #1 green contractor in the USA. A project built by Mexican Green Carders and engineered by Indians from India working with field engineers from southeast Asia with office workers from Acorn equal-opportunity employment placement.

AS a retired UNION IRONWORKER I know that non union contractors on PUBLIC WORKS projects get Premium Wages The worker gets the whole ball of wax on his check. no deductables such as retirement. medical , vacition, That if the contractor doesnt stiff him which is pretty hard to do . I never understood why they award the work to non union contractors it cost the Goverment the same. Its a good deal for the labor if they are smart enough to take care of thier money

woody with a view - 9-14-2011 at 04:05 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by J.P.

Quote:

it's called Prevailing Wage. Davis Bacon Act. Chula Vista is trying to get a ballot measure this year to be able to not have to use the Davis Bacon Act in their Convention Center. Just hire out of town/country transient laborers for $12 hour to do the work.....

J.P. - 9-14-2011 at 04:29 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by woody with a view

Quote:

Originally posted by J.P.

Quote:

The REPUB'S have been trying to GET ER DONE for years.

David K - 9-14-2011 at 05:51 PM

TV news says closed perhaps into tomorrow (Thu) morning.

bajario - 9-14-2011 at 06:43 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by J.P.
Quote:
Originally posted by baja1943
What do you expect from Hansel Phelps a Non-Union, #1 green contractor in the USA. A project built by Mexican Green Carders and engineered by Indians from India working with field engineers from southeast Asia with office workers from Acorn equal-opportunity employment placement.

AS a retired UNION IRONWORKER I know that non union contractors on PUBLIC WORKS projects get Premium Wages The worker gets the whole ball of wax on his check. no deductables such as retirement. medical , vacition, That if the contractor doesnt stiff him which is pretty hard to do . I never understood why they award the work to non union contractors it cost the Goverment the same. Its a good deal for the labor if they are smart enough to take care of thier money

it's called Prevailing Wage. Davis Bacon Act. Chula Vista is trying to get a ballot measure this year to be able to not have to use the Davis Bacon Act in their Convention Center. Just hire out of town/country transient laborers for $12 hour to do the work.....

We do work for HP at Pendelton and North Island and they are a top notch contractor with safety as there #1 priority. Ask any contractor out there doing government work and they'll tell you they wouldn't get any federal work if safety wasn't an issue. Davis Bacon levels the field for the non union shops and workers. Its the PLA's that need to be abolished. But union or not this was an accident and I can personally vouch for HPs work and safety ethics as being top notch.

Russ - 9-15-2011 at 05:38 AM

video:
http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/lanow/2011/09/san-ysidro-bor...
You'll probably have to cop/paste this whole URL

[Edited on 9-15-2011 by BajaNomad]

Carmageddon in Tijuana after border closure

BajaNews - 9-15-2011 at 05:52 AM

http://www.sandiegored.com/noticias/18868/Carmageddon-in-Tij...

Por: Omar Millán
14 Septiembre 2011

TIJUANA – A traffic nightmare unfolded Wednesday in the city’s busiest areas when thousands of motorists were diverted from the closed San Ysidro border crossing to the one in Otay Mesa, snarling traffic along the way all day long.

By late afternoon, the wait to cross at Otay Mesa had stretched to more than four hours. Traffic waiting to use the Ready Lane had backed up about eight miles, and those waiting to use the SENTRI lanes had stacked up even farther.

Public officials on both sides of the border announced plans to ease traffic. The U.S. Customs and Border Protection said that when regular cargo inspections ended at 8 p.m. Wednesday, those lanes would be used for vehicle traffic until 5 a.m., when cargo inspections would resume. The port of entry at Tecate also would remain open all night.

And in Tijuana, Mayor Carlos Bustamante announced a plan that blocked access to the San Ysidro crossing and eased traffic to the Otay Mesa one. He urged those who did not have to absolutely travel to the United States to stay away from that port of entry.

All that was too late for Alejandro Escobar.

The San Diego resident arrived at the San Ysidro border crossing around 9:45 a.m. to return home. A construction canopy collapsed there about an hour later and he found himself being sent away from the area.

“The problem was that there was no coordination whatsoever,” said Escobar. “No transit police, nothing. Who knew where you should go? That was wrong.”

He made his way to the Otay Mesa border crossing, where at mid-afternoon he was still waiting to cross into the United States – more than six hours after he had arrived at San Ysidro.

The director of Tijuana’s transit police, Adrián Hernández, said that four main avenues in the Río zone leading to the San Ysidro crossing had been blocked -- calle Segunda, Paseo de los Héroes, Centenario and Padre Kino. He said traffic was being sent to Otay Mesa, some five miles away.

Instead of traveling through the Río zone, which had been jammed since the collapse at the border, he urged residents to take alternate routes, to reach that area.

And starting at 7 p.m., three temporary lanes were to be open on 12th Street (calle 12), in the Centenario district, which leads to the gates at the Otay Mesa border crossing, according to Angélica Echegoyén, deputy director of Mexican Customs in Tijuana.

Traffic in the Río Zone was already going to be a challenge Wednesday before the collapse at San Ysidro. A main thoroughfare had being partially closed ahead of Independence Day festivities Thursday.

Moments after U.S. authorities closed the port of entry 10:45 a.m. following the collapse, the thousands of motorists waiting to cross flowed back into the Río zone, causing a gridlock on avenida Paseo de los Héroes, between the Cuauhtémoc and Independencia monuments, and slowing traffic to a crawl on the adjacent Vía Rápida Poniente, near the Tijuana Cultural Center.

To accommodate Mexican Independence Day festivities, the municipal government had announced that it would close starting at 10 a.m. Wednesday the west-to-east stretch of avenida Paseo de los Héroes, between calle Manuel Márquez de León and Independencia monument traffic circle.

Starting at 10 p.m., city officials planned to shut down all vehicle traffic on avenida Independencia, from Sánchez Taboada Boulevard to the Independencia traffic circle, in front of the Centro Cultural Tijuana.

The streets are to remain closed until Saturday at 5 a.m., when the festivities are to end.

Before and during the festivities, however, vehicle traffic will be allowed on a stretch of Paseo de los Héroes, between the Cuauhtémoc and Independencia monuments.

But many motorists in Tijuana were not thinking about the holiday; all they wondered how and when they would be able to arrive to their destination.

Border crossers face test of endurance

BajaNews - 9-15-2011 at 05:58 AM

http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/2011/sep/14/border-crosse...

Written by Sandra Dibble
Sept. 14, 2011

OTAY MESA — With the San Ysidro Port of Entry’s northbound lanes closed Wednesday, drivers and pedestrians endured long lines to enter the U.S. through the Otay Mesa crossing. Many said they waited for more than three hours.

“We’re very tired,” said Aurora Espinosa, 57, of Encanto, among the rows of drivers who inched toward the inspection booths about 5 p.m. Espinosa had traveled to Tijuana in the morning to pick up a new pair of glasses.

Accompanied by her sister-in-law, Irasema Escobosa, she had expected to make the return trip in a couple of hours — not five. The two women spent an hour trying to cross at San Ysidro, but by the time they arrived at noon, the northbound lanes had been closed for more than an hour. The drive to Otay Mesa and the subsequent wait took four more hours.

So it went for countless others, each with a story to tell of how they made it across to San Diego on the day the world’s busiest land border crossing shut down. Otay Mesa’s 13 vehicle lanes were open, some for the streamlined SENTRI and Ready Lane users, but the mass of drivers and walkers faced lengthy waits.

In the pedestrian line, which stretched for more than a mile throughout the afternoon, tempers flared when some people accused others of jumping the line. Tijuana police officers had to intervene.

Among those who waited patiently was Edwin Miranda, a 42-year-old U.S. citizen who lives in Playas de Tijuana and crosses to his job — driving a bus for Barona Casino.

Following his normal routine, Miranda drove to San Ysidro, arriving at 10:30 a.m. — 15 minutes before the shutdown. Unable to cross, he headed to Otay Mesa, but after spending more than two hours stuck in traffic, Miranda decided to walk across. That took another three hours.

By then, it was too late for work: “Things happen, you get stressed, it’s not going to solve anything,” Miranda said, smiling. “I’ve lost my day, but tomorrow’s another day.”

One of the few happy travelers was Linda Duke of Bonita, who owns a maquiladora factory in Tijuana. Duke drove into Mexico on Wednesday morning, but opted to return on foot when she learned that Otay’s vehicle lanes were backed up.

Thanks to her SENTRI card, Duke was able to stroll past hundreds of other pedestrians into the U.S. inspections area. “I thought it was going to be at least 45 minutes,” Duke said. “It was nothing, zero. It was amazing.”

13 northbound border lanes reopen

BajaNews - 9-15-2011 at 06:02 AM

http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/2011/sep/14/several-injur...

By Kristina Davis and Sandra Dibble
Sept. 15, 2011

Thirteen of San Ysidro’s northbound lanes were reopened at midnight. There were no immediate plans to open additional lanes Thursday.

Pedestrians regained access to the crossing at 6:30 p.m. — nearly eight hours after the collapse.

Southbound lanes into Mexico stayed open.

SFandH - 9-15-2011 at 06:37 AM

6:30 AM - Just saw live helicopter video of SY crossing. Look like 1/2 the northbound lanes are open. A huge wait. I'd bet that Otay is clogged and Tecate much busier than usual.

Don't cross today if you can wait.

bajadock - 9-15-2011 at 07:30 AM

Received a reliable report that Tecate northbound crossing was a 5 minute wait at 06:30 today/Thursday morning.

Crossing San Ysidro

LaloinBaja - 9-15-2011 at 07:39 AM

Just hung up with recorded update for 7AM today (Thursday) 12 lanes open and a 55 minute wait in general traffic...I wouldn't go there today...Probably going to get worse soon...Lalo (Call 619-690-8800 for update)

DENNIS - 9-15-2011 at 08:44 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by LaloinBaja
Just hung up with recorded update for 7AM today (Thursday) 12 lanes open and a 55 minute wait in general traffic...I wouldn't go there today...Probably going to get worse soon...Lalo (Call 619-690-8800 for update)

They lie.

LaloinBaja - 9-15-2011 at 09:39 AM

:light:

No...Don't tell me that...It's government....HA!

fandango - 9-15-2011 at 10:02 AM

http://apps.cbp.gov/bwt/

this website now shows 2 entries for san ysidro. curious.

jeremias - 9-16-2011 at 01:15 PM

I'm headed south and coming back up on mon.............sheesh, is this going to be a issue stilll? argh

David K - 9-16-2011 at 05:52 PM

Why does anyone use San Ysidro northbound???

CORREDOR 2000 to Otay or Tecate, or better HWY. 3 to Tecate if you are coming north from Ensenada.

BajaBlanca - 9-16-2011 at 05:58 PM

for those of us who stay close to the sy crossing - we have no better choice ..

David K - 9-16-2011 at 06:03 PM

Even if I lived in Tijuana.... I would go to Tecate... I would rather drive an hour extra... then sit ideling in a line of cars for 2-3 hours (to save miles, lol)!

Woooosh - 9-16-2011 at 06:13 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by David K
Even if I lived in Tijuana.... I would go to Tecate... I would rather drive an hour extra... then sit ideling in a line of cars for 2-3 hours (to save miles, lol)!

unless you drive a hybrid...

It's all electric under 30mph unless I crank up the A/C

[Edited on 9-17-2011 by Woooosh]

woody with a view - 9-16-2011 at 06:18 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by BajaBlanca
for those of us who stay close to the sy crossing - we have no better choice ..

not true, sister. i live 10 minutes up the 805. i prefer to go TKT if the moons align. SY SUCKS! in the past 6 years my best wait at SY has been 25 minutes at 9pm.

just don't tell anyone......

Ohh, Pssh, the Border is Very Important to the Economy of Both Countries

Gypsy Jan - 9-16-2011 at 06:21 PM

The crossing will be repaired quickly.

David K - 9-16-2011 at 06:22 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Woooosh

Quote:

Originally posted by David K
Even if I lived in Tijuana.... I would go to Tecate... I would rather drive an hour extra... then sit ideling in a line of cars for 2-3 hours (to save miles, lol)!

unless you drive a hybrid...

It's all electric under 30mph unless I crank up the A/C

[Edited on 9-17-2011 by Woooosh]

I don't care what powers the car... to sit still, then inching forward for hours is not any fun... I love to DRIVE! (Maybe because I have a Toyota? Oh, what a feeling!)

Woooosh - 9-16-2011 at 07:49 PM

Do they have the drive-thru food court at Otay or Tecate... no.

David K - 9-17-2011 at 07:41 AM

San Ysidro border was reported to become fully open today (on last night's news).

woody with a view - 9-17-2011 at 09:12 AM

i wonder how many management types were axed as a result of this major blunder/international incident?

edit: ?

[Edited on 9-17-2011 by woody with a view]

nbacc - 9-17-2011 at 04:11 PM

I want to know how all those people in line turned around. Nancy

BornFisher - 9-17-2011 at 07:40 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by nbacc
I want to know how all those people in line turned around. Nancy

Not very well I would guess. But I wonder about that too. What a monumental cluster f---- that must have been. Hey I wonder if someone is still trying to get out

David K - 9-18-2011 at 12:01 AM

One lane along the concession stands (on the right) was their exit out... Must have taken hours!

nbacc - 9-18-2011 at 06:45 AM

ick...........I cannot even imagine.

J.P. - 9-18-2011 at 09:45 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by nbacc
ick...........I cannot even imagine.

The locals turn around all the time if they think it's taking too long or whatever. :lol:

All lanes are open as of Sunday

BajaNews - 9-19-2011 at 08:32 PM

http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/2011/sep/18/all-lanes-reo...

Sept. 18, 2011

SAN DIEGO — Officials say all lanes have been reopened at the nation's busiest border crossing after scaffolding fell on more than a dozen cars and injured 11 travelers and construction workers.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection Agency spokeswoman Jackie Wasiluk said Sunday that traffic in all 24 U.S.-bound vehicle lanes was flowing normally at the San Ysidro port of entry from Tijuana to San Diego.

Three lanes had remained closed until late Saturday.

Traffic was halted Wednesday after construction scaffolding collapsed onto eight lanes. A construction worker was seriously hurt, and 10 other people, including a pregnant woman, were taken to hospitals with minor injuries.

Mexico-bound traffic was never interrupted.

Avoid Tecate at all costs!!!

tommix130 - 9-20-2011 at 10:28 AM

DISCLAIMER: (This is a self-serving post) Avoid the Tecate crossing on October 1st!!! There will be horrendous back-ups, AND, there won't be any street vendors, they will be on strike, oh the horror of it all! :lol:

Don't say that I didn't warn you :rolleyes:

bacquito - 9-20-2011 at 11:20 AM

I used the sentri lane yesterday 9/19 and had no problems. Returned the same day to Ensenada with no problems.