New Infrastructure Elevating Roads –and Style in Baja
Construction of a Major New Elevated Road and Shopping Mall will Benefit Rosarito Homeowners
Tijuana and Playas de Tijuana are about to experience a significant infrastructure upgrade. The future Elevated Viaduct (Viaducto Elevado) will significantly improve waiting times at the border and expedite traffic to Playas de Tijuana. At the same time, the new Peninsula shopping center is a welcome addition to the Baja lifestyle. These projects are exciting news for Rosarito and Ensenada homeowners, who stand to gain from better mobility and more entertainment and shopping options than ever.
Construction will cost an estimated 8 thousand 437 million Mexican pesos (around 469 Million USD ) from the Mexican government and a customs fiduciary fund. The Elevated Viaduct will be almost 8 miles long, connecting the vehicular flow from Tijuana Abelardo L. Rodríguez International Airport with Playas de Tijuana, the Northernmost coastal town in the Rosarito-Ensenada Road.
The new road will also link with the Cañon del Matadero area, easing vehicular flow around the border crossing. The project includes supporting structures such as tunnels, false tunnels, and bridges. According to Jorge Nuño Lara, Head of the Ministry of Communications and Transport Infrastructure (SICT, by its Spanish acronym), construction will kick off at the beginning of May.
The Viaduct will also connect with the border checkpoint El Chaparral and Puerta México East. Once the road opens, it will relieve the flow of vehicles heading East, toward Tecate Customs, and West, to Ensenada, through the Tijuana-Rosarito road, expediting commercial transit.
“If you come from Otay heading to Playas de Tijuana or Rosarito, you will spend less time sitting in traffic; this will impact the adjoining roads and benefit users’ mobility,” commented Kurt Ignacio Honold Morales, Secretary of Economy and Innovation of Baja California. The Ministry of National Defense designed the project, which has been praised for its well-planned structure. Construction is scheduled to be completed by 2025.
Shopping in Style
Tijuana also experienced an exciting architectural milestone with the opening of the Peninsula shopping center in December 2023. With over 40 retailers, including iconic European and American brands, a Mexican flagship store, restaurants, bars, and a movie theater, the enclave promises to become Baja’s entertainment and lifestyle epicenter.
“Our residents are stoked,” says Max Katz, President of Baja Beachfront Realty Group. “They used to drive to San Diego to shop for clothes, but now they can access fast-fashion brands without crossing the border.” Trendy European retailers such as Zara, Pull & Bear, and Massimo Dutti are already open, as well as American staples H&M, Petco, and Lego. There’s also a movie theater and plans for Tijuana’s first 5-star hotel, residential condos, and even a hospital. Mexico’s high-end department store, Liverpool, also has a presence. Anecdotal reports from some shoppers say that prices at Tijuana shops are 25% lower than in the US.
“More infrastructure is always positive for the Rosarito-Ensenada region, where you can buy an oceanfront home starting in the high $300k, concluded Katz.