UPDATE:
York Drive is CLOSED and will remain closed until late 2011. Traffic is being rerouted along Montgomery to access South Santa Fe. Signs are also posted to assist the traveling public. A detour map is available here.
This closure of York Drive is necessary to perform earthwork, grade and construct driveways and retaining walls, install new drainage, water and sewer facilities, and prepare for the construction of the new four-way intersection.
PROGRESS:
Much has been accomplished during the first three stages of the construction of the South Santa Fe Avenue – North (SSFN) Road Improvement Project since it began in Spring 2010. If you have driven by lately, you’ve noticed retaining walls nearing completion along the NCTD Sprinter tracks. Here is a breakdown of the work thus far:
1. Completed installation of storm drains in Anna Lane
2. Completed construction of road and underground improvements for Hannalei Drive realignment.
3. Utility undergrounding from the first and second phases is nearing completion and consists of trenching and installing underground conduit that will ultimately house the existing overhead lines. Underground utility trenching to bore conduit under NCTD tracks has begun from Hannalei to the widened South Santa Fe Avenue.
4. Installation of sewer and water lines for South Santa Fe Ave is continuing.
5. Construction of the retaining walls along the south side of South Santa Fe Ave along the rail road line from Montgomery Drive easterly toward the new four-way intersection to support the widened South Santa Fe Avenue is nearing completion.
6. Stage 2 temporary widening of asphalt pavement southeast of the new intersection has been completed for the shifting of traffic to allow the construction of the northbound South Santa Fe Avenue lanes.
7. Stage 2 grading to lower York Drive for ultimate connection to the new intersection has been substantially completed.
8. Stage 3 grading and construction of retaining walls and driveways on York Drive and along the northeast side of South Santa Fe toward Montgomery has begun
WHAT’S AHEAD: Phase 3 Improvements:
The second stage of the SSFN improvement project began in July 2010 and is now substantially complete. Stage 3 construction work began in December 2010 and is being done concurrently with the finalization of the work from the second stage of the project. Stage 3 is expected to continue into early 2012 and will include the following construction activities:
1. Grading in the area between York Drive and the NCTD rail lines that is required to lower the area and ultimately provide the new alignment for York Drive to connect at the future four-way intersection,
2. Storm drain trenching and pipe installation for capture and conveyance of runoff in the area of the new intersection,
3. Continuing work on all utility improvements,
4. Construction of the retaining walls from Montgomery Drive easterly toward the new four-way intersection to support the widened South Santa Fe Avenue.
HOW THIS WILL IMPACT YOU:
Public safety is paramount in the design, during construction, and in the day-to-day vehicular and pedestrian use of any road being improved. Throughout all phases of construction every effort will be made to maintain traffic flow and above all – safety. Flagmen and construction signage will continue to be used to ensure safe and steady traffic flow through the construction zones. Updates and other bulletins concerning detours and safety advisories will also be posted on the DPW Twitter and Facebook pages, linked from the DPW web site.
Recommended alternate routes during initial phases of construction continue to be Montgomery, Woodland, Hannalei, and Avocado Drives.
To ensure your safety, and that of our flagmen, please slow down in the construction zones and comply with any posted signage and the directions of flagmen working to make your commute through the area as expedient and safe as possible.
Hannalei Elementary School Shuttle Service
The Vista Unified School District is bussing through the project construction areas for student access to and from Hannalei Elementary School during the 2010-2011 school year. Schedules and locations have been determined for this shuttle service and are available for download on this site.
Recommendations for alternate routes for both vehicular and pedestrian traffic will be continually updated on this page. Updates and other bulletins concerning detours and safety advisories will also be posted on the DPW Twitter and Facebook pages, linked from the DPW web site.
A Quick Project Background:
South Santa Fe Avenue (SSFA) is a major roadway that runs parallel to State Route 78 and serves as an alternate route connecting the City of Vista with the City of San Marcos. SSFA is already a four-lane roadway within these two cities; however, the road is only two lanes in the unincorporated area of the County between Vista and San Marcos. The SSFA Improvement Project will complete a portion of the transformation from two lanes to four for the entire roadway, add other improvements, and bring the road segment into compliance with the county’s General Plan Update.
The SSFN project includes the improvement of a 0.7-mile segment between Montgomery Drive and 700 feet east of Woodland Drive and will widen the roadway from two lanes to four, adding approximately 1.8 new lane-miles of traveled roadway. It will also include drainage improvements to capture and route storm water runoff, sidewalks and bicycle lanes on both sides of the new roadway, improvements to existing water and sewer lines, and the reconstruction of a new roadway centerline. Overhead utility lines will also be removed and placed underground adding to the aesthetic appeal of the area. And for increased safety, the railroad crossing will be moved to a newly constructed four-way intersection of South Santa Fe Avenue and Woodland and York Drives.
The $14.2 million in construction costs for SSFN are funded by TransNet (sales tax revenues), Transportation Impact Fees, and Prop 1B bonds approved by the voters in 2006.
The SSFN project is divided into seven phases of construction as a means of maximizing safety, efficiency and quality. The first phase began in March 2010 and is nearing completion. The second phase of the SSFN improvement project began in July 2010 and is expected to last approximately six months.
Traffic Control & Advisories:
Latest developments in alternative routes and detours, plus other traffic advisories will be posted on this site.
Up-to-the-minute late advisories will be also be posted on: Twitter.com/sdcounty.dpw and on the DPW Facebook account
A Project Hotline number has also been established to answer questions regarding construction. The number is (888) R-O-A-D-W-R-K (762-9675)
Project Benefits
The widening of South Santa Fe Avenue between the Cities of Vista and San Marcos will greatly improve traffic flow and reduce travel delays and result in safer and more efficient movement of traffic. More efficient traffic movement helps to minimize environmental impacts and improve air quality.
The benefits of the South Santa Fe Road Improvement Project are numerous: The project will:
• provide additional lane miles
• improve traffic flow and reduce travel delays
• match lane capacity of the neighboring cities
• provide dedicated turn lanes
• upgrade bike lanes
• install new sidewalks
• upgrade storm drain, sewer and water facilities
• relocate and improve the safety of the railroad crossing
• improve of the area by undergrounding overhead utilities lines
• reduce environmental impacts
• and most importantly, enhance public safety
Additional information on traffic advisories, construction progress, environment issues, and public safety will be posted regularly on this site.
A project hotline has also been established to answer your questions. That number is (888) ROADWORK / (888) 762-3975
The South Santa Fe Road Improvement Project is another example of DPW - Working For You.
Email Updates Get newsletters and other updates of the South Santa Fe Road Improvement Project
You can also get DPW news, road reports and updates on Facebook and at Twitter.com/sdcountydpw
