The opening date for PedWest, a long-awaited new pedestrian entrance at the San Ysidro border crossing, remains uncertain. While U.S. officials say they are ready to begin operations in June, Mexican authorities have not confirmed that they will be prepared.

The issue has come up in recent weeks after Mexican officials told their U.S. counterparts that they lacked the funds to complete their end of the project on time. The two sides have continued talking about ways to resolve the issue, but as of this week no solutions had been announced.

“We’re hoping to have it on schedule,” said Pete Flores, San Diego director of field operations for U.S. Customs and Border Protection said of the PedWest opening. “We don’t have a firm commitment of the opening date from Mexico yet.”

The opening of the new facility is critical for close to 24,000 daily northbound pedestrians who currently are funneled into an old 14-lane inspection facility east of the vehicle lanes as they cross from Tijuana to San Diego. At peak crossing times, the wait can stretch to more than two hours.


PedWest, which will have between 10 and 12 new lanes, is located west of the vehicle lanes. It is part of a reconfiguration of the San Ysidro Port of Entry, a multi-phase $741 million project.

Without opening PedWest, the U.S. General Services Administration cannot launch the replacement and expansion of the existing eastern entrance that is scheduled for completion in 2019. During the construction phase, crossers on the eastern side will be moved through a make-shift facility with only six lanes.

Asked earlier this week whether Mexico anticipated it would be prepared to open PedWest in June, Claudia Ruiz Massieu, Mexico’s secretary of foreign affairs, answered: “It is my understanding that officials from both countries at the federal level are going to meet in a couple of weeks to determine the best date that is mutually convenient to continue this project.”

Meanwhile, the U.S. is maintaining its position that it remains on schedule: “We are going to be ready to go operational in June,” said Ramon Riesgo, program specialist for the GSA.