The construction of the elevated viaduct just south of the border in Tijuana is facing significant delays and is not expected to be completed for another year. According to Víctor Gabriel González Mendivil, president of the Mexican Construction Industry Consortium in Baja California, the delays are due to worker conflicts over compensation and payment schedules. The project was originally slated for completion last October.
When finished, the elevated roadway will extend over 6 miles, stretching from Tijuana’s coast to the city’s international airport in the east. The construction includes two tunnels and several bridges, with a budget of $750 million. The goal is to alleviate traffic congestion on Avenida Internacional, which runs parallel to the border and is often jammed during rush hours, particularly in downtown Tijuana and around the San Ysidro Port of Entry.
“There have been several complications with the project delaying it,” said González Mendivil. One major factor contributing to the delays is work slow-downs by crews who are upset over their compensation and pay schedules. On February 7, workers filed a claim against SEDENA, Mexico’s defense secretary, demanding back wages and severance packages for laid-off workers.
SEDENA, which is managing the project, has not addressed the workers’ accusations. Instead, it cites inconsistent steel shipments from China as the primary reason for the delays. “This is not a good look for them; they have not been upfront about payments to the workers,” González Mendivil commented. “Now they are falling way behind.”
A section of the roadway from the beach into downtown Tijuana was supposed to be completed by April. However, many of the support columns are still unfinished, indicating that this section won’t be ready anytime soon. The entire roadway is now expected to be completed by the second quarter of 2026.
Source: Border Report
