U.S. and Mexican authorities shared their respective progress toward completing construction of a new Otay Mesa border crossing by 2024, or even ahead of time if possible.

Leaders from both sides of the border, including U.S. Ambassador to Mexico Ken Salazar, as well as California Lt. Gov. Eleni Kounalakis and Baja California Gov. Marina del Pilar Ávila, participated Feb. 14 in a binational summit in which they pledged to do their part to deliver the project.

“Even though the completion date for the crossing is 2024 right now, we are all redoubling our efforts and our commitment to move that day to 2023,” Kounalakis said, following the meeting held near the construction site in Otay Mesa.

The Otay Mesa East project, also known as Otay II, will help reduce wait times at other border crossings, thereby boosting economic development in the border region, officials agree.

“It is also a model to emulate as our countries become more and more economically integrated,” Salazar said. “Today more than ever, Mexico is our most important partner.”

On the U.S. side, construction of the $1 billion dollar project is under way. In December, authorities opened new freeway connectors as part of the project. Construction is also near completion on state Route 11, the main road to the new port of entry.

Meanwhile, Mexico has…