Border Lane Closures on I-5 and MTS Service Alerts for Jan. 21

Significant Border Delays on I-5 South

San Diego commuters heading toward the San Ysidro Land Port of Entry this Wednesday morning face ongoing delays as a major safety and infrastructure project enters its final days of the current phase. Phase 2 of the $2.7 million construction effort, managed by the U.S. General Services Administration and Caltrans, is currently in effect. Drivers should expect a continuous closure of the eastern-most inside lane on southbound I-5 near the border median.

This construction is focused on removing older speed humps near the inspection booths and replacing temporary barriers with permanent concrete dividers to improve long-term traffic flow. While access to Tijuana through the El Chaparral crossing and the Camino de la Plaza off-ramp remains open, the reduction in available lanes is causing substantial bottlenecks where Interstate 5 and Interstate 805 merge. Authorities suggest using the Otay Mesa Land Port of Entry or public transit to bypass the most congested areas. This phase of construction is slated to conclude by 5:00 a.m. on Friday, January 23.

MTS Bus and Trolley Service Alerts

The San Diego Metropolitan Transit System (MTS) has issued alerts for commuters using bus and trolley services today. Most significantly, riders on minibus and MTS Access routes may experience unplanned service disruptions due to temporary personnel constraints at Transdev, the service's contract operator. These disruptions have affected reliability since late last week and are expected to continue throughout the day. Passengers are encouraged to check the MTS real-time trip planner before heading to their stops.

• Green Line Trolley: Elevators at the Fashion Valley Transit Center are currently out of service. Riders requiring assistance should use the elevators located in the adjacent parking structure. Repairs are expected to last through January 30.
• SDSU Station: Escalators at the SDSU Station remain out of order. Commuters are advised to use the available ramps, stairs, or elevators to reach the platform. Maintenance is scheduled for completion by January 23.
• Advance Notice for Routes 3 and 5: Commuters should prepare for temporary bus stop closures at Market Street and 19th Street starting tomorrow, January 22, during the late-night hours.

Regional Highway and Rail Updates

On State Route 78, Caltrans reports one-way controlled traffic between Ysabel Creek Road and the Guejito Creek Bridge. Crews are performing essential road maintenance in this area, and motorists should anticipate periodic delays throughout the morning and afternoon.

The I-15 Express Lanes are currently operating on their standard weekday schedule, with the movable barrier system deployed to provide extra capacity for the southbound morning rush. This configuration ensures more reliable travel times for FasTrak users and carpools. Finally, a reminder for rail commuters: a full closure of the coastal rail line between Oceanside and San Diego is scheduled for this coming weekend, January 24-25, to allow for routine infrastructure work.