Anonymous - 9-25-2004 at 12:48 PM
http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/mexico/tijuana/20040924-9...
By Anna Cearley
September 24, 2004
TIJUANA ? For people trying to walk into the United States at the San Ysidro Port of Entry, the biggest challenge has been to avoid being hit by cars
that also are creeping north.
Some compare it to the classic video game Frogger, in which a frog must dodge and hop through a stream of obstacles.
Yesterday, Mexican government officials announced that in coming weeks they would start building a $613,000 pedestrian bridge that will rise over the
eastern border lanes.
"We want to improve the security of those who are crossing into the United States," said Jos? Marquez Padilla, who oversees the Mexican customs agency
in Tijuana. "There have been accidents in the area where the bridge will be built."
The bridge is among $3.7 million in improvements to be undertaken this year and next at the Mexican port of entry and on its perimeter. The border
area between San Diego and Tijuana is said to be the busiest land crossing in the world.
The projects will include remodeling administrative buildings, creating a more efficient inspection area, planting green areas, and building a special
area for contraband-sniffing dogs.
The money comes mostly from the Mexican federal government, but the five-year planning effort involved at least five local, state and federal
agencies. Baja California and the city of Tijuana will be building the pedestrian bridge, according to a news release.
"The idea is to improve the image of the entry into Tijuana as well as improve the circulation of vehicles and pedestrians," Marquez said.
Marquez said he didn't know how many accidents have been attributed to pedestrians weaving their way through cars. Neither did James Thiede, vice
consul with the U.S. Consulate in Tijuana.
"But you can see that it is hazardous with pedestrians going through moving traffic," Thiede said. "They just hop and skip through."