Hours extended at San Luis port of entry

SAN LUIS, Ariz. — An anticipated increase in commercial traffic between the United States and Mexico has led the San Luis II port of entry to expand its hours of operation this winter.

The commercial crossing is now open 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. weekdays and 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturdays, according to U.S. Customs and Border Protection.

The agency's assistant director for trade in San Luis, Chris Leon, said CBP wants to accommodate what it anticipates will be peak months of travel by exporters and importers between the two countries.

Previously, the port operated according to a flexible schedule dictated by the volume of traffic at the moment, he said.

The new schedule will remain in effect until April, Leon said.

Apart from the commercial port, a second crossing in downtown San Luis serves private traffic between the two nations.

That port originally served both private and commercial vehicles. San Luis II, about five miles to the east, was opened in 2010 to reduce congestion at the downtown port and to expedite the crossing of commercial vehicles that include large tractor-trailers.