Mexico’s President Claudia Sheinbaum visited Tijuana and Rosarito on Saturday, marking her first official trip to Baja California since taking office earlier this month. Sheinbaum, who made history as Mexico’s first female president, toured ongoing federal projects, including one eagerly anticipated on both sides of the border — the overhaul of the San Antonio de los Buenos sewage treatment plant in Tijuana. Construction started under the previous federal administration. The project is expected to be instrumental in reducing the amount of sewage that has polluted the coastlines of San Diego County and Tijuana. “The progress is significant and soon this project will be completed,” said Baja California Gov. Marina del Pilar Ávila on social media, sharing photos of the president’s tour. Mexican officials have previously said they expect to deliver the project by the end of the year. The Mexican military is in charge of the project. Sheinbaum also observed the progress of the construction of an elevated viaduct that will connect Playas de Tijuana to Tijuana’s international airport. The first phase of the project, between Playas de Tijuana and the Chaparral southbound border crossing, is expected to be completed next year. “This project will transform the metropolitan area of Tijuana and improve the lives of thousands of people by significantly reducing travel times, which means less fuel consumption and lower emissions to the environment,” said Ávila. crowds wait in line to hear Mexico President Claudia Sheinbaum speak during a rally at the Baja California Center in Rosarito, Mexico on Saturday, Oct. 26, 2024. (Sandy Huffaker / For The San Diego Union-Tribune) crowds wait in line to hear Mexico President Claudia Sheinbaum speak during a rally at the Baja California Center in Rosarito, Mexico on Saturday, Oct. 26, 2024. (Sandy Huffaker / For The San Diego Union-Tribune) Crowds wait in line to hear Mexico President Claudia Sheinbaum speak during a rally at the Baja California Center in Rosarito, Mexico on Saturday, Oct. 26, 2024. (Sandy Huffaker / For The San Diego Union-Tribune) A crowd member cheers during a speech by Mexico President Claudia Sheinbaum during a rally at the Baja California Center in Rosarito, Mexico on Saturday, Oct. 26, 2024. (Sandy Huffaker / For The San Diego Union-Tribune) Mexico President Claudia Sheinbaum speaks during a rally at the Baja California Center in Rosarito, Mexico on Saturday, Oct. 26, 2024. (Sandy Huffaker / For The San Diego Union-Tribune) Crowd members cheer during a speech by Mexico President Claudia Sheinbaum during a rally at the Baja California Center in Rosarito, Mexico on Saturday, Oct. 26, 2024. (Sandy Huffaker / For The San Diego Union-Tribune) Show Caption1 of 6crowds wait in line to hear Mexico President Claudia Sheinbaum speak during a rally at the Baja California Center in Rosarito, Mexico on Saturday, Oct. 26, 2024. (Sandy Huffaker / For The San Diego Union-Tribune) Expand Sheinbaum did not address those projects in her speech to hundreds of people at the Baja California Center in Rosarito. Instead, she focused on outlining new social programs and talked briefly about a program to build 50,000 new houses in Baja California. Sheinbaum, who was joined by federal officials as well as Rosarito Mayor Rocío Adame, vowed to continue the work started by her predecessor, Andrés Manuel López Obrador — but, in a nod to her place in Mexican history, noted that it was “now the time for women in our country.” Sheinbaum added: “We have a voice, we have a mindset, and we can be whatever we want to be.” Ávila, the state’s first female governor, echoed the sentiment in her words to Sheinbaum: “The day I saw you with the presidential sash, you changed the lives of girls and women in Mexico.” Ávila mentioned both major construction projects, and the Otay Mesa East border crossing, as ones that will streamline cross-border trade. The U.S. side of the Otay Mesa East border crossing has experienced many delays over the years. Once announced for late 2024, the project is now tentatively scheduled to open in late 2027, according to U.S. officials. The San Diego Association of Governments, or SANDAG, which is the project’s sponsor along with Caltrans, previously said the setback had to do with pending agreements with the federal government.