District: District 11 – San Diego and Imperial Counties
Contact: Hayden Manning
Phone: (619) 688-6670
SAN DIEGO —New concrete pipes have arrived for eastbound State Route 78 emergency culvert repair work. On April 5, crews closed all eastbound lanes from El Camino Real to College Boulevard to repair the damage that originally caused a sinkhole in mid-March, closing the westbound lanes within the same project limits.
Crews work 24-7 to replace nine corrugated steel pipes with high-density plastic and concrete pipes. The work on the eastbound lanes is expected to continue for approximately three more weeks. Changeable Messages Signs have been placed on northbound and southbound Interstate 5 and 15 to alert motorists of this closure.
The detour for the closure is as follows:
- Motorists will exit the eastbound SR-78 at El Camino Real and turn left.
- Then right at Vista Way and right on College Boulevard.
- Left on Plaza Drive, enter the eastbound SR-78.
The total cost of repairs is estimated to be $20 million, with funds for the repairs coming from the State Highway Operation and Protection Program (SHOPP). Culverts are state assets regularly inspected and assessed as part of the State Highway Asset Management Plan.
Motorists are reminded to be Work Zone Alert if traveling in the area and to watch for highway workers and moving construction equipment.
The construction schedule is subject to change due to weather conditions, traffic incidents, or other construction-related reasons.
For real-time traffic information, including traffic speed, lane and road closures due to construction and maintenance activities, and more, go to http://quickmap.dot.ca.gov/
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