As I-15 progresses, key decisions loom for I-5, Highway 76
By: DAVE DOWNEY - Staff Writer | ∞
SAN DIEGO -- For commuters who slog through bumper-to-bumper traffic on Interstates 5 and 15 and Highway 76, key milestones are finally approaching.
In inland North County, some work on I-15 is scheduled to wrap up by year's end, officials at the San Diego office of the California Department of Transportation said Wednesday. On the coast, construction is about to start on a new interchange.
And completion is nearing on crucial environmental studies that will shape the long-awaited widening of I-5 and Highway 76.
Meanwhile, the Sprinter light-rail line between Oceanside and Escondido is expected to open in December, said Karen King, executive director of the North County Transit District.
"In North County, this is going to be a banner year," King said. "We're going to be crossing the finish line on a number of projects."
King made the comments at an annual media briefing on the status of highway and rail projects across San Diego County. It was organized by Caltrans in conjunction with the North County Transit District, San Diego Association of Governments and other agencies.
Pedro Orso-Delgado, Caltrans district director, said this is one of the busiest times in recent memory for highway construction, with $20 million a month being spent for that purpose -- double the amount of three years ago.
Orso-Delgado predicted the pace will kick up another notch -- to at least $30 million a month -- once the state starts disbursing money from the transportation infrastructure bond, Proposition 1B, that California voters passed in November.
It's hard to miss all the construction, said Gary Gallegos, executive director of the association of governments, a regional transportation and planning agency.
"As you drive around town, you really can't help but notice the cranes, trucks and construction workers improving our transportation system," Gallegos said.
The work is perhaps nowhere more obvious than on I-15.
Part of that work will culminate in the opening of one new northbound lane on the I-15 mainline between Camino del Norte and Centre City Parkway and one new southbound lane between Via Rancho Parkway and Rancho Bernardo Road in December, said Gustavo Dallarda, Caltrans' I-15 corridor director.
However, Dallarda said, the toll car-pool lanes being built in the center won't open until later; in summer 2008 from Highway 56 to Rancho Bernardo Road, and December 2008 from Rancho Bernardo to Centre City Parkway.
Here are other highlights for North County:
"We're adding two new loop ramps, which will effectively eliminate the need to make a left turn from Lomas Santa Fe to either onramp from either direction," said Tom Nipper, assistant project manager.
"We're going to buy right of way for six lanes and build four lanes," Phelan said.
Both projects are part of an ongoing effort to ultimately deliver two continuous sets of tracks along the 60 miles between downtown San Diego and the Orange County line, reducing delays and providing room for more trains. Now, less than half of that stretch has a second track, King said.
Crossing six cities and six lagoons, the makeover is almost certain to include four exclusive toll car-pool lanes, said Arturo Jacobo, an I-5 project manager. What's not clear is whether Caltrans will add a pair of lanes -- one in each direction -- to the mainline.
"Our goal is to begin construction in 2009 or 2010," he said.
-- Contact staff writer Dave Downey at (760) 740-5442 or ddowney@nctimes.com.
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Paul wrote on Feb 15, 2007 6:07 AM:Oh yea, more car pool lanes, more electronic signs that say -- "an eternity to your destination", more construction that takes a millennium to complete. Has anyone in the state government ever audited the contracts issued to these contractors, from both a performance and financial standpoint?
Questioning wrote on Feb 15, 2007 7:16 AM:What can the hiway people be using for brains? Two mainlanes and 4 HOV lanes! Give me a break! Single occupant at this time is the most prolific user of our roadways; why not concentrate on them to relieve congestion? The number one lane can be converted, if needed in the future for an added HOV lane.
Ask wrote on Feb 15, 2007 7:19 AM:WOW, I guess when you're spending tha kind of money you have to tell people you're doing something. All I heard was a bunch of fluff! 1 lane is just not going to cut it... As for Del Mar Bluffs, I seriously hope public money is not being spent on saving houses from erosion. If they bought a house there, that was their decision, not mine. Let them fall like they do in Malibu.
Sucker Taxpayer wrote on Feb 15, 2007 8:27 AM:It is bad enough government blows our tax dollars in stupid ways, but to blow it before they get it is something else. Why don't they build the highway on the south side of Camp Pendelton through the gang land. It might break them up. These government agencies should be investigated, because they are wasting monies and could be on the take.
S760 wrote on Feb 15, 2007 8:41 AM:Oh wow one lane added.....you won't notice it with the absolute huge influx of population we are experiencing. So our wait time goes from 2 hrs. to 1.5 hrs. Same hell but with two lanes.
Jeff wrote on Feb 15, 2007 9:10 AM:Carpool lanes' objective is to transport more HUMANS per minute, not more cars. I believe it's time to car-tax based on length of a vehicle. The longer the vehicle, the more space the car takes away from other vehicles during rush hour. It's time to hit wasteful SUV users in their pocketbook. And I applaud the double tracking to improve train connections too!
to: Questioning wrote on Feb 15, 2007 11:05 AM:4 HOV lanes is 2 each direction. I mainlane is one more in each direction. MESSAGE TO YOU - CARPOOL or suffer. Only pain will get lazy Americans out of the car and into mass transit or at least a carpool. As for a tax on car length, What??? a car takes up both its length and the "buffer space". The buffer space is the same for a Festiva as it is for a Lincoln Navigator. The difference in overall space is almost insignificant.
George wrote on Feb 15, 2007 1:33 PM:When, exactly, did the voters direct our leaders to force us to carpool or to force us out of our cars and onto public transit? The answer to the question (previously asked over a year ago at http://www.nctimes.com/articles/2006/01/08/opinion/commentary/20_40_461_7_06.txt) is: never! If the HOV lanes were congested, you might have a case for more HOV lanes. The regular lanes ARE congested and you DO have a case for more regular lanes. Carpooling works for a few people but not for the majority of commuters or they would be carpooling already. It's time to meet the need, not dictate lifestyle changes.
George wrote on Feb 15, 2007 1:38 PM:If you're really wondering "what the highway people are using for brains", take a look at "SANDAG plans to preserve chokepoints" at http://www.nctimes.com/articles/2006/09/05/opinion/commentary/21_00_219_4_06.txt where you'll find a brief analysis of the TransNet Dashboard's information about I-15 construction activity.
George wrote on Feb 15, 2007 1:47 PM:The HOV lanes in the center of I-15 currently carry an average of 550 carpools per hour per lane, which works out to 1100 people per hour. The unrestricted lanes filled with drive-alone commuters are carrying 2000+ people per hour. The unused (and unavailable) capacity of the HOV lanes is causing congestion! They should be opened to all vehicles at no charge to get us home sooner and to minimize auto pollution.
Who are these people? wrote on Feb 15, 2007 2:12 PM:Who are the people at CalTrans who make these ridiculous decisions? Maybe they bike to work or take the Trolley. They sure don't understand our neighborhoods in North County, that's for sure. We don't want huge freeway widenings.
Ask wrote on Feb 15, 2007 6:00 PM:Why should the tax dollars of 95% of the population go to the 5% who actually use the carpool lanes??? As a middle class, white male... I'm hosed in every way possible. THANKS CALIFORNIA!!!
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