These are from Carol and her friend Marie. Unlike the previous directions, they have actually used these directions successfully to cross the border:
Take the toll road north all the way to the light at Benito Juarez.
There are three lanes. Get in the far right lane labeled Colonial Federal (it used to be the carpool lane). All three lanes turn left and you want to stay to the right so go on the right–hand side of the K-rail divider.
Follow this lane past all the folks waiting in the border line and keep going over the hill to the traffic circle. You want to be in the far left lane.
Make a U-turn onto Avenida Frontera.
Go one block to the huge speed bump and stop sign. Turn right and take the second left onto Paseo Centenario. Follow it to the first stop sign.
If you look over your left shoulder you will see the big green Sentri sign. Make a U-turn.
Congratulations, you have made it to the Sentri lane. There are currently two lanes that expand to four lanes as you proceed.
Occasionally, when you look back and see the Sentri lane you will notice that there is a long line of cars past where you want to do the U-turn. These people are already in line and you do not want to cut in line. Instead, make a left turn and go one block. Turn right and go one block. (Sometimes this is closed off, so make the first available right). Turn right again and you will return to Paseo de Tijuana (traffic circle). Turn right onto Paseo de Tijuana and you are at the end of the Sentri lane. Even if the Sentri lane is this long, you will still get to the border in less than 30 minutes.
Here is a link to a map showing both border crossings
http://www.tijuanaonline.org/english/maps/tj_otay.htm
Thanks Carol and Marie!
PS. I won't guarantee it, but this just might be the last post on the Sentri lanes.
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2 comments:
Thank you so much for these directions! They were perfect and completely easy to follow. The one and only thing I would add, is once you go onto Colonial Federal there is a red medical cross on the road and a sign saying medical vehicles only that you just ignore. It was our first time in the SENTRI lane and I so appreciate you listing these directions to make it a smooth border crossing :o)
I know this is an old post, but there's a much easier way now (they've finally un-blocked some of the stuff in northern Tijuana):
After the last toll, instead of following the exit for San Diego, follow the signs straight (do not exit) for "Centro". This is Juárez Avenue / 2nd Street. Go for quite a while through Tijuana, always straight, and eventually it will turn into a one-way road.
After you cross Revolución—which will be REALLY obvious, look for the metal arch on your left—get in the right lane. Follow signs for PASEO DE LOS HEROES / COL. FEDERAL. You'll pass Mexitlán, which is the big green building with the multi-colored globe star looking thing on top.
Exit to the right of the K-rails, but keep left after than for AV. PASEO DE LOS HEROES. Keep following signs; you'll go around some curves and you'll see a giant Costco on your right. You'll go through one light and then come to a big traffic circle (a glorieta) with a huge statue called "Las Tijeras" (the scissors). Make a "left" (go three-quarters of the way around the circle) onto Independencia. This will take you up and over the freeway and the river.
At the first glorieta (circle), with a man holding a quill pen, turn "left" (go three-quarters of the way around the circle) onto Paseo del Centenario Tijuana. You'll go "straight" (second exit) through one glorieta, then keep left (do not go toward Av. Padre Kino).
Keep on keeping left, and there's a big, beautiful green sign that says, "USA SENTRI". Exit left to follow it and then you'll see the blue signs. No mixing it up with normal border traffic, no weird U-turns. Just go straight toward Centro from the toll road, follow Av. Paseo de los Héroes, and make two left turns at signalized traffic circles.
¡Buen viaje!
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