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GSA updates board on Calexico West land‑port reconfiguration; pedestrian building work scheduled through 2028
Summary
The U.S. General Services Administration briefed the Imperial County Board on the phased reconfiguration of the Calexico West Land Port of Entry. Temporary pedestrian processing is scheduled by year’s end and the new pedestrian building completion is projected in late 2028.
Vincent Gagliardo, project manager with the General Services Administration (Region 9), told the Imperial County Board of Supervisors the Calexico West Land Port of Entry project is proceeding in phases and that the vehicular lane upgrades completed earlier this year.
Gagliardo said phase 2B work will create a temporary pedestrian processing facility near the historic Customs House to reroute northbound pedestrian traffic while the existing pedestrian building is demolished and a new processing facility is constructed. He told the board the temporary facility is expected to be operational around the end of 2025, with demolition and construction to follow, and a target completion date for the new pedestrian building in late 2028.
Gagliardo said the vehicular portion of the project (phase 2A) finished in February 2024 and included 16 primary inspection lanes, a pre‑primary inspection canopy and five southbound inspection booths. Planned installation of public artwork on the corner of Second and Cesar Chavez may cause short evening lane closures when it begins; GSA anticipates the art installation in June.
On operational staffing, the board asked why all 16 primary vehicle lanes do not appear open in daily practice. Gagliardo said lane openings are contingent on Customs and Border Protection staffing and that CBP must staff lanes before they can be placed into regular operations.
GSA said the design for the temporary and permanent pedestrian buildings is underway. The agency noted coordination with Mexican authorities to adjust south‑of‑border lanes and called out expected benefits of the new configuration: increased pedestrian processing capacity (up to 12 lanes), improved queuing and a new main hall with baggage screening, to reduce bottlenecks.
Ending: Gagliardo invited further questions and said GSA will continue to coordinate construction timing with CBP and local officials to minimize traffic impacts during installations and demolition work.
