A Bridge Not Yet Far Enough

The new northern-most vehicle bridge, a key segment in Tijuana’s masterplan to expedite border inbound and outbound commuter traffic, is slowly taking shape just south off the ancient pedestrian bridge that crosses the Tijuana River. Ditches were dug, rebar reinforced concrete columns were raised, and steel girders are now being hoisted by a couple of cranes.

The bridge has just spanned the currently active part of the river, in this present summer season little more than a muddy stream running down a central culvert toward the U.S. border.

The construction project has been going on for at least 3 months, but seems to have ramped up a bit in the last week with the arrival of a larger work crew, including several welders, now seen scampering about the structure, fitting the pre-fabbed span girders.

The project is the final installment of the Chaparral master plan, the first phase being the now completed vehicle bridge that is about a quarter mile south of the current construction activity.

Although the project, which consists of 4 bridges that cross the river, has been moving slowly, only two bridges remain to be completed and the whole project is now expected to be completed by the last week of October or the first week of November, according to a projected completion update posted in Frontera, quoting the State Secretary of Infrastructure and Urban Development, Carlos Flores.