Mayor Todd Gloria, joined today by other state and local leaders and members of the Otay Mesa community, celebrated the start of construction of the City of San Diego’s La Media Road Improvements Project.

“With the start of construction of the La Media Road project, this is a great day for San Diego,” Mayor Todd Gloria said. “An improved La Media Road will bring good jobs, economic growth and far more efficient movement of goods through the Otay Mesa border crossing. Without a doubt, this is a beacon of progress and opportunity for our entire binational region.” 

La Media Road is part of the designated truck route for the Otay Mesa Port of Entry and is a vital location for boosting the cross-border economy.  The $60.6 million project will raise the intersection of La Media and Airway roads to address persistent flooding. La Media Road will also be expanded to a six-lane primary arterial from State Route 905 to Airway Road, and a five-lane major road between Airway and Siempre Viva roads with three southbound lanes and two northbound lanes. Additional improvements include buffered bike lanes, parkway landscaping, traffic signal installation and pedestrian improvements, including curb rams and continental crosswalks. 

The improvements to La Media Road will make the street safer, provide congestion relief and improve access for freight trucks going through the Otay Mesa Port of Entry.  

With support from stakeholders including Caltrans, the California Transportation Commission and SANDAG, the City was able to secure $22.7 million in state grant funds to help cover the costs of the construction phase of the project. 

Thanks to collaboration with Rep. Juan Vargas, the City worked closely with the Army Corps of Engineers to expedite permits allowing construction to proceed. Additionally, the City worked in close coordination with the Otay Water District to execute a reimbursement agreement for the relocation of facilities owned by the District. 

“Widening La Media Road, between Siempre Viva Road and the designated truck route, to the Otay Mesa Port of Entry, will enhance the movement of goods – improving our local and regional economy,” said Rep. Juan Vargas, who represents the 52nd Congressional District. “It will also lower traffic in the area and increase public safety by allowing emergency vehicles a dedicated road shoulder to travel freely. I’m proud to have secured these federal funds in Congress because it will strengthen San Diego’s infrastructure and benefit millions of residents.” 

“The La Media Road Improvements Project will benefit our economic opportunities, binational trade and health of our region,” said Chairwoman Nora Vargas of the County of San Diego and SANDAG. “This major road improvement project in Otay Mesa will reduce idle cars and trucks to ensure everyone has access to clean air. These investments are what we need to have healthier and stronger communities.” 

“I am excited to break ground on the La Media Road project,” said City Councilmember Vivian Moreno, who represents District 8. “This project will repair a vital piece of our freight transportation network and make cross-border commerce more efficient while lowering greenhouse gas emissions by reducing truck idling and congestion caused by trucks on local streets.” 

As construction work gets underway, La Media Road is closed in both directions from State Route 905 to Avenida de la Fuente. All access to southbound La Media Road from both SR-905 offramps will remain closed while the La Media Road closure is in effect.

The work will take place in two phases. The first phase includes La Media Road from SR-905 to Avenida de la Fuente and is expected to be completed in the spring of 2024 with the reopening of the intersection, allowing truck traffic through the designated truck route. Work will then shift south on La Media Road from Avenida de la Fuente to Siempre Viva Road and include partial traffic closures. This phase of work is expected to be completed in the fall of 2024. 

July 19, 2023