12 replies to this topic

[NuttBoxer]

We are currently looking for a house in Tijuana and so far the places that we have found most appealing are all in Playas.  Since I'll be doing the cross border commute I was wondering how things will be on the rapida from Playas to the border?  I'll be leaving my house most days at 6:30am, and crossing back to Tijuana around 4:30pm.  I'm fine with the border wait(Sentri), and my brother-in-law assures me that as long as I cross back before 5pm there won't be much traffic in Tijuana, so this is my only unknown.  I can handle my US commute (work by the 15/56), and the border, but I don't want to drive for a half hour or more in stop and go traffic just cuz I live in Playas.

[Miggiesmallz- TEXMEX]

I did that commute to Mission Valley for three and a half years from 05-08. Getting out Playas in the morning towards the border is never a problem, especially since you have sentri. I found that the later I left home the heavier the traffic was (around 9-10 am) but it was never too bad. Locals seem to work later hours. Typically about a 10 minute drive to the line.

Getting into Playas was a pain in the ass from the hours of 5:15 to almost 7 PM, especially when there was an Army check point close to El Mirador for almost 6 month back in 07. With no check point, things can still get pretty heavy on Avenida Internacional going up towards El Soler and then down into Playas. Your brother in law is right, the earlier you get home, the better.

As far as the US side in the afternoon, I don’t know how often CBP does reverse inspections these days, that could make things difficult getting into TJ.

I hope you enjoy living in Playas as much as I did. I still go back often to visit. I would recommend making the drive to Playas after work at least a couple of times before you actually move. That way you can get a feel for whether its a good idea or not.

[NuttBoxer]

I did that commute to Mission Valley for three and a half years from 05-08. Getting out Playas in the morning towards the border is never a problem, especially since you have sentri. I found that the later I left home the heavier the traffic was (around 9-10 am) but it was never too bad. Locals seem to work later hours. Typically about a 10 minute drive to the line.

Getting into Playas was a pain in the ass from the hours of 5:15 to almost 7 PM, especially when there was an Army check point close to El Mirador for almost 6 month back in 07. With no check point, things can still get pretty heavy on Avenida Internacional going up towards El Soler and then down into Playas. Your brother in law is right, the earlier you get home, the better.

As far as the US side in the afternoon, I don’t know how often CBP does reverse inspections these days, that could make things difficult getting into TJ.

I hope you enjoy living in Playas as much as I did. I still go back often to visit. I would recommend making the drive to Playas after work at least a couple of times before you actually move. That way you can get a feel for whether its a good idea or not.

Thanks for the info, exactly what I was hoping to hear. I actually drove down recently for Dia de los Magos and got a first hand look at the rapida into Soler after 5pm. Will definitely make sure I'm crossing before 5.

On a side note my wife says even the local news is making fun of how bad the potholes on the rapida to playas have become. I'm not sure what the Spanish phrase was but she said the translation amounts to "We welcome you with open holes". I hear they're going to fix it sometime soon, hopefully not during rush hour.

[Miggiesmallz- TEXMEX]

Yep, that strech of road that runs along side the fence is horrible. I wonder why they did not white top it like they did other parts of the Via Rapida and Libramiento Rosas Magon.

¡Tijuana, te espera con los baches abiertos!

Its funny in Spanish because brazos (arms) and baches (pot-holes) both start with B and have two syllables

[Cyanide41]

If I leave the Kearny Mesa area around 4:30 I am usually in Playas by 5:30

[andy]

Things vary widely based on the time that you are coming and going.

From Playas to the Sentri line is apx. 15 - 20 minutes. Leaving Playas prior to 6:30am is better. There is heavier traffic in TJ after 6:30am - 8:00am. It also depends on whether you cross the river via Colonia Federal to the Sentri line or whether you have to go further east and cross on another bridge. It is often difficult to cross from the Internacional to 2nd ave due to the traffic in the regular (left) border line.

In San Diego headed north the traffic is generally light up until 6:45am. From 6:45am to 8:30am the traffic is usually heavier on both the 805 and 5 headed north.

In regards to returning from San Diego to Mexico there are several factors. ICE has been inspecting southbound vehicles from the United States to Mexico for large amounts of cash (over $10,000 undeclared to US customs), drugs, guns, and who knows what else. Yes, they sometimes have these inspections during rush hour. If they are inspecting cars going south, this can add 30 minutes to 1.5 hours to your commute. The average wait to get back into Mexico without these inspections is less than 15 minutes since Mexico add some additional southbound lanes.

If no accident, the Internacional headed towards Playas is usually clear prior to 5:30pm. From 5:30pm to 7:30pm traffic is usually heavier. Of course there are frequent accidents since the road is narrow, in dire state of repair, and vagrants are constantly crossing the Internacional to get to the river.

Keep in mind some other future factors that may cause delays:

* Supposedly they are going to concrete (white top) the internacional at any time. This is going to cause huge delays since this is one of the most travelled roads in TJ. I had read that the construction is estimated to take 45 days to 6 weeks to complete once they start.
* The US and Mexican governments have big plans to re-do the San Ysidro border in the next 5 years or so. Who knows what types of delays will occur when this occurs. Should be better after it is done since they are adding more lanes going both north and south. There was an article a few months back on Sign On San Diego that detailed the plan.
* Fortunately there is almost never any significant traffic on the final stretch out to Playas (near El Mirador). They increased that road from 2 lanes each way to 3 lanes each way last year when they did the concrete (white top).

The good news, in general Sentri has been good. The US Government is trying to get more people into the program and has been opening additional lanes as needed to keep the line moving. They are advertising 'less than a 15 minute wait' in Sentri. Mostly that has been true. But we have seen in the past where this goes in cycles and Sentri can be as long as 1.5 hours on very bad days during the morning rush hour(s).

[andy]

Construction on the Internacional headed west towards Playas started up today. The internacional is closed heading west by the Soler exit. They are detouring everyone towards Soler. Delay...

Not sure if they are starting the concrete (white top) or doing some other type of road resurfacing.

[Cyanide41]

The construction on Ave Internacional has really picked up. I counted about a dozen cement trucks this evening. I imagine they will be closing the other side next.

[andy]

Supposedly it's going to be another 60 days until the Westbound lanes are done and re-opened. Then they have to do the Eastbound lanes. I had heard that they want to do something to mitigate the flooding of the Eastbound lanes every time that it rains more than a few drops. I don't know if that means that they are going to elevate the road or just add some 'interesting' drainage system. In any case, seems that this construction is going to go on for quite a while.

It's been easy the last couple of weeks with the lighter traffic due to spring break. We'll see if the traffic picks up in the next couple of weeks. The current detour via Soler is no good. One lane when take the corner right before you head up the hill into Soler.

[Cyanide41]

really? Dang! I thought the west bound lanes looked like they were almost done.

[andy]

really? Dang! I thought the west bound lanes looked like they were almost done.

Well they started the westbound ave. Internacional construction on March 3rd. It's already been 55 days and maybe half of the westbound side is done...

[andy]

The Internacional opened heading to the West today. Almost 3 months to do a few miles of road in concrete, white top - one direction. At least there are no holes now!

So I wonder if they are going to start on the Internacional headed East? Seems that they are repairing some pot holes on the Eastbound lanes, ie. that they are not going to work on that now. I guess we'll find out in the next few days.

[Cyanide41]

I wish I had seen this yesterday. I took segundo all the way and that line was long.