The Tecate Port of Entry on the California-Baja California border is undergoing a phased modernization as part of U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s broader infrastructure upgrade across San Diego County. CBP has proposed nearly 10 miles of new border barrier construction in the Tecate and Otay Mesa sectors, alongside more than 50 miles of system upgrades that include surveillance cameras, LED lighting towers, paved patrol roads, and fiber-optic sensor arrays along existing fencing. The combined project represents one of the largest border infrastructure investments in the region since the original fence construction in the early 2000s.
The Tecate crossing, designated as a Class A port (CBP port code 2505), currently handles passenger vehicles, pedestrians, and commercial cargo along the 94/Tecate highway corridor. It operates daily from 5:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m., serving as the primary crossing point for residents of Tecate, Baja California and the unincorporated communities of eastern San Diego County. Average wait times for passenger vehicles run between 15 and 40 minutes depending on the day and hour, with Friday afternoons and Sunday evenings consistently the busiest windows.
What Travelers Should Expect
During the renovation phases, CBP plans to maintain full port operations while construction crews work on perimeter barriers and technology installations. However, travelers should anticipate periodic lane reductions in the vehicle inspection area, particularly during overnight hours when heavy equipment may be staged near the primary inspection booths. Pedestrian crossers can check real-time wait times at bwt.cbp.gov before heading to the port. For commercial haulers, CBP recommends contacting the Tecate port directly at (619) 938-5300 for current lane status and any temporary weight or size restrictions during active construction windows. The public comment period for the broader San Diego County border project closed in October 2025, and construction timelines are expected to be finalized by mid-2026.
