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Calexico Port of Entry
PROJECT OVERVIEW
Expansion of Land Port of Entry in Downtown Calexico, CA
The General Services Administration (GSA) proposes reconfiguration and expansion of the existing port of entry (POE) in downtown Calexico, California. The project includes new pedestrian processing and privately owned vehicle (POV) inspection facilities, a new headhouse and new administration offices. The expanded facilities will occupy both the existing inspection compound and the site of the old commercial inspection facility.
The existing POE is a pedestrian and vehicle inspection facility constructed in 1974. It comprises three buildings (a main building, a historic customs house, and a decommissioned commercial inspection building). On an average day, over 16,000 POVs and 20,000 pedestrians enter the United States through this POE.
The existing facilities are undersized relative to existing traffic loads and obsolete in terms of inspection officer safety and border security. The space required for modern inspection technologies is not available. Workspace is too small to accommodate additional staff, systems and equipment required at the facility following the events of September 11, 2001. The ability of DHS to accomplish its rapidly changing mission is seriously compromised by the inadequacy of the existing facilities. When completed, the project will provide the port operation with adequate operational space, reduced traffic congestion and a safe environment for port employees and visitors.
The project involves creation of new pedestrian and POV inspection facilities, expansion of the port onto the site of the former commercial inspection facility, whose operations moved to Calexico East in 1996. Primary POV inspection facilities will include 16 northbound booths and three southbound booths. There will be new administration space, a new headhouse and 32 secondary inspection stations serving northbound and southbound traffic. A total of 240 surface parking stalls will be provided.
The project will be constructed in two phases. Phase 1 will consist of ten northbound POV inspection lanes, a headhouse and sitework necessary to accommodate those facilities on the sloping site. Phase 2 will consist of the balance of the project including additional sitework, a pedestrian processing facility, administrative offices, three southbound POV inspection lanes and six additional northbound POV inspection lanes.
To date, Congress has appropriated $14,350,000 for site acquisition and project design. GSA expects to request approximately $81 million of FY2010 funding for additional site acquisition, additional design and construction of Phase 1. It is expected that GSA will request FY2011 funding for construction of Phase 2.
DESIGN
The project will be constructed in a two phase approach. The first phase of the project will provide for northbound throughput, adding 10 new lanes in addition to use of existing lanes. Primary and secondary inspection facilities will be included in this phase. Southbound traffic will be accommodated in with three new lanes. Phase 1 will be constructed to the west of the existing port of entry and east of the new river. Please refer to the "Calexico Design: Phase 1" attachment below.
The second phase will demolish existing inspection facilities and construct administration and pedestrian facilities in its place. The project will provide 205,000 gross square feet of office and inspection area. Six additional northbound inspection lanes will also be added. Please refer to the "Calexico Design: Phase 2" attachment below.
PROJECT TEAMS
U.S. General Services Administration
Project Manager:
Joe Shahpar
Site Acquisition Officer:
Barry Dauphinee
Branch Chief:
Paul Andrade
Border Specialist:
Ramon Riesgo
Contracting Officer:
Lilia West
Property Manager:
Pete Watson
Program Manager:
Keith Lew
Transaction Manager:
Naomi Hatkin
Realty Specialist:
Chuck Knauer
Environmental Manager:
Greg Smith
Senior Asset Manager:
Jonathan Ballard
Consultants
The non-government links below are for industry partners. GSA is not responsible for the content found on these websites.
Architecture: Perkins + Will (nongovernment site)
Environmental: To be determined
Construction Management: To be determined
COMMUNITY REPRESENTATIVE COMMITTEE
As part of GSA’s Good Neighbor Program, the Calexico West Community Representative Committee (CRC) was developed in 2007 by GSA as a means for working with the community and obtaining input on the POE project. Member organizations are outside stakeholders perceived to be most affected by the development and operations of this port of entry. The CRC group meets approximately on a quarterly basis, discussing topics related to project development and associated impacts on the surrounding community and the wider region. The CRC will continue to meet throughout the design and construction phases, working together with the GSA team to address and resolve community-related project issues.
CRC Member Organizations (Government)
Caltrans
US Federal Highways Administration
City of Calexico
Imperial County
Department of State
City of Mexicali
CRC Member Organizations (Nongovernment)
To be determined
Last Reviewed 3/19/2009