Introduction

The State Route 11 (SR 11)/Otay Mesa East Port of Entry (POE) Project is a joint venture between the San Diego Association of Governments (SANDAG) and Caltrans, in collaboration with state and federal partners in the U.S. and Mexico, to create a 21st century border crossing for the San Diego-Baja California region that will enhance regional mobility and fuel economic growth and binational trade. The new port of entry will be clean, green, and smart.

SR 11/ Otay Mesa East Port of Entry Overview Map

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Project Purpose and Need

As the U.S.-Mexico border region grows, there is a need to improve the commercial movement of goods, services, and passengers through an efficient, integrated system to bolster the local, state, federal, and international economies. In 2019, the Otay Mesa and Tecate ports of entry processed a combined $48.3 billion in total bilateral trade, and that number is expected to grow over the coming years. The SR 11/Otay Mesa East POE project will facilitate job growth and new economic opportunities for private sectors on both sides of the border.

Project Benefits

This project will shorten border wait times, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, enhance regional mobility, fuel economic growth, strengthen border security and resiliency, and bolster binational trade for both the U.S. and Mexico.

Project Status

Construction is currently underway on a number of transportation improvements, including the final segment of the future toll road State Route 11 and site preparations on the Otay Mesa East Port of Entry site. For additional project information, please visit sandag.org/SR11.

Enrico Fermi Drive/ Diverging Diamond Interchange

The Diverging Diamond Interchange, located at the intersection of State Route 11 (SR 11) and Enrico Fermi Drive in Otay Mesa, opened to traffic in September 2021. This interchange is the first of its kind in the San Diego region - and the first in California to cater to freight. The interchange is one of several transportation infrastructure improvements currently underway to support mobility to and from the future Otay Mesa East Port of Entry, all of which will help fuel economic growth, enhance mobility, and bolster binational trade as commercial development in the region grows.

How to Drive through a Diverging Diamond Interchange:

Motorists traveling northbound or southbound along Enrico Fermi Drive will follow signs and pavement markings to cross through the first signalized intersection to the opposing side of the bridge over SR 11.
Motorists going straight through the intersection proceed through a second traffic signal and follow their lane back to the right side of the road.
Motorists traveling northbound on Enrico Fermi Drive toward westbound SR 11 will take a left turn onto the freeway using a free flow left turn movement. There will not be a left turn signal to enter the on-ramp.
Motorists traveling southbound on Enrico Fermi Drive toward westbound SR 11 will take a free right turn movement to enter the freeway. Vehicles do not have to stop to access the on-ramp except for a pedestrian crossing.
Vehicles exiting the eastbound SR 11 off-ramp to Enrico Fermi Drive can turn left at the signalized intersection to go northbound on Enrico Fermi Drive or turn right to go south towards Airway Road.

How to Walk or Bike Through a Diverging Diamond Interchange:

Pedestrians travel on designated walkways, including a protected pedestrian walkway through the median of the bridge over SR 11, and cross at signalized crosswalks through the interchange.
Bicyclists can travel along the bike/ pedestrian sidewalk or via the designated Class II bike lane to cross through the interchange, which features green thermoplastic pavement markings along the right shoulder of northbound and southbound Enrico Fermi Drive.

Multimodal Connections to Otay Mesa East Port of Entry Feasibility Study

The SR 11 / Otay Mesa East POE represents two decades of work that has brought together state, federal, regional, and local stakeholders. The POE will be the nation’s first transformative land POE to integrate innovative technologies that improve regional security and safety, bolster binational economic productivity, provide resiliency to the border transportation network, enhance mobility and efficiency, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, enhance health in surrounding environmental justice communities, and foster innovative strategies. Recently studies found a benefit-cost ratio of 10-1, meaning for every dollar spent on the project there would be $10 in benefits to California realized. The project has been highlighted as a key project by the State of California since the new border crossing will implement strategies identified in the National Freight Strategic Plan, 2021 California-Baja California Border Master Plan, California Freight Mobility Plan 2020, and California Sustainable Freight Action Plan.

Currently, the Otay Mesa East POE right-of-way includes 4-6 acres for a future transit station, already environmentally cleared. The project sponsors are seeking to conduct a feasibility study to provide critical input into the appropriate multimodal connections (transit, bike, and pedestrian) leading to the OME POE to provide equitable transportation options for the binational communities.