San Ysidro

Commercial vehicles carrying merchandise into the United States from Mexico will now be required to use the Otay Mesa border crossing instead of the San Ysidro port of entry, said Allan J. Rappoport, district director of the U.S. Customs.

Beginning Monday, the Virginia Street commercial crossing at San Ysidro will be closed to northbound traffic because of insufficient use since the new border crossing opened in February.

The decision to close the Virginia Street crossing angers some San Ysidro business leaders who say that the small border community depends of the commercial traffic for its importing businesses.

A study by the San Diego Assn. of Governments concluded that closing the crossing would not have a substantial economic impact on the San Ysidro economy. A second and larger study on San Ysidro’s economic needs is being conducted by City Councilman Uvaldo Martinez.

The Virginia Street crossing will remain open for southbound commercial traffic, Rappoport said.