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I-805 South project making progress
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I-805 South project making progress

Construction of a Direct Access Ramp (DAR), transit station, and Park & Ride at East Palomar Street in Chula Vista began this spring. The project will provide new transportation choices and relieve traffic congestion in South County when it’s completed in late 2014.

The project will connect travelers to the South Bay Bus Rapid Transit system and offer a convenient location for carpools to access the High Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) lanes currently under construction on Interstate 805 (I-805). The DAR will allow buses, carpools, vanpools, zero-emission vehicles, and motorcycles to directly enter the carpool lanes in the center of the freeway without having to merge from the general purpose lanes.

Nearly 60 people attended a workshop at East Palomar Elementary School on March 7 to learn about the project. Project team members from Caltrans, SANDAG, and the City of Chula Vista were on hand to answer questions and solicit feedback from the public.

The DAR, transit station, and Park & Ride are all elements of the first phase of the I-805 South Express Lanes Project. Work includes building one carpool lane in each direction along an eight-mile segment of the freeway median from East Palomar Street in Chula Vista to State Route 94 in San Diego.

“When it’s complete, this $1.4 billion investment will create a modern new transportation backbone for South County,” said Ramon Martinez, Caltrans project manager for the I-805 South Express Lanes Project.

Significant progress has been made since construction began on the HOV lanes in June 2012. The installation of piles to widen bridges along the freeway median has been completed at the following locations: East Naples Street, Telegraph Canyon Road, Bonita Road, the I-805 South and State Route 54 interchange, Sweetwater Road, and Euclid Avenue. Work is now underway to pour the bridge decks. Preliminary paving also has begun on the carpool lanes, which are scheduled to open to traffic in fall 2013.

During construction, travelers should consider alternative routes to work and school, especially during rush hour. One solution is to take the South Bay Expressway, which provides easy access to Downtown San Diego, Sorrento Valley, Santee, Interstates 8 and 15, Otay Mesa, Mexico, and more.