SAN DIEGO (Border Report) — Construction of Tijuana’s elevated highway, or viaduct as it is called south of the border, could be ready by this time next year, according to Mexico’s Defense Secretary, which is in charge of the project.

Work on the 6-mile roadway started in 2023.

Critics, including Elmer Peña Ruvalcaba of Mexico’s Chamber of Industry and Construction in Tijuana, don’t expect construction to be done till 2027 considering the current pace of the project and work yet to be done including many support columns in the downtown area.

When done, the viaduct will connect Tijuana’s coastal communities with the city’s airport, bypassing congestion in downtown and around the San Ysidro Port of Entry.

It will run parallel to the border above Avenida Internacional.

“They were saying at the end of this year, now it’s the middle of the coming year, in reality we have no idea what stage of construction this project is in or what their deadline is,” said Peña Ruvalcaba.

The entire roadway has a budget of a $1 billion.

“Wherever you’re going on this roadway, from the airport to the beach, it’s going to take only minutes, it’s going to be a great benefit, this city needs anything that will benefit and improve traffic flow.”

According to city traffic surveys, 200,000 vehicles on a daily basis are expected to use the viaduct when it’s done.