Andrade Border Station Expansion and Renovation Project

The Andrade Border Station is located about 180 miles east of San Diego and eight miles west of Yuma, Arizona. Directly adjacent to Andrade on the Mexican side of the border is the community of Algondones, Baja California. The border station is located within the boundaries of the Fort Yuma Indian Reservation on property belonging to the Quechan Tribe just west of the Alamo Canal and the Colorado River.

This land port of entry is used primarily by pedestrians from the United States wishing to shop or avail themselves of medical services in Algondones. The Quechan Tribe maintains a large parking lot on the United States side that serves this trade.

Vehicular access to Interstate 8, two miles to the north, is provided by State Route 186. The port also accommodates privately owned vehicles, buses, and a limited amount of commercial traffic. Seasonal use of the port is pronounced, with peak use occurring in February when many senior citizens are wintering in Yuma.

In March 2003, GSA completed the Final Feasibility Study for the Andrade United States Port of Entry. This report examines the Andrade Port of Entry (POE) to determine needs of the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) facilities now and into the future. The Feasibility Study was conducted after recognizing basic deficiencies of the existing border crossing facilities in handling existing pedestrian and vehicle traffic.

Renovation and expansion is needed to upgrade border crossing services and to increase efficiency, security, and safety for federal agencies and the traveling public. Five options developed during the Feasibility Study call for new northbound inspection facilities, including primary booths, secondary inspection area, administration space and improved pedestrian access. Three of the options involve renovation of the existing port at its present location. Two more propose moving some of its functions to the east side of the Alamo Canal or the Colorado River, respectively. Mexico is planning new facilities for the east side of the Alamo Canal, the direction in which Algondones is growing.

Of particular concern on the U.S. side is the safety of pedestrians who now must cross multiple lanes of traffic and use the unpaved shoulder of SR186 to reach the Quechan parking lot. During the peak season, vehicular traffic is an issue for Mexico with long northbound waiting lines extending well into Algondones. The station also requires modernization to accommodate new inspection technology that will improve the flow of traffic and provide additional security.

GSA initiated an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) on December 18, 2003, at which time a Notice of Intent was published in the Federal Register. A Public Scoping Meeting was held on January 7, 2004 in Yuma, AZ. All interested stakeholders were invited to participate in the Public Scoping Meeting and submit comments on environmental issues. The Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) was published and distributed to all stakeholders on November 10, 2005; at which time the Notice of Availability (NOA) was published in the Federal Register.

On November 16, 2005, a Public Hearing on the DEIS was held in Yuma, AZ, and all stakeholders were again invited to attend and submit comments. The Public Comment Period for the DEIS closed on January 9, 2006.

GSA is waiting for confirmation of operational requirements from U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) before selecting the Preferred Alternative and completing the final EIS. The action to be evaluated by this EIS is the proposed expansion/renovation of the existing Andrade POE. It would improve the safety, security, and operations of the POE, and improve control over ever-present illegal activities at the border.

Photo Credit: Aerial view of the Andrade Border Crossing, courtesy of Caltrans.

RELATED GSA TOPICS

• Land Ports of Entry

GOVERNMENT LINKS

• Customs and Border Protection
• Immigration and Customs Enforcement