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Interstate 8 / Imperial Avenue Interchange

Interstate 8 / Imperial Avenue Interchange logoDecember 2020

Improving the Highway

Caltrans received funding to allow reconstructing the interchange at Imperial Avenue and Interstate 8 (I-8) in the city of El Centro. Work will include constructing two ramps at I-8 that will provide direct access to southbound Imperial Avenue and will provide connectivity to the southern portion of the city. The improvements will complement city plans for future commercial and residential development.  

Meeting Traffic Demands

Traffic in the project area is primarily associated with the growth in international trade and travel between the United States and Mexico as well as travel on to and from Imperial Avenue north of I-8. The Imperial Avenue interchange experiences congestion in the morning and afternoon hours. Approximately 16,000-27,000 vehicles per day use this section on I-8. By 2025, traffic on this portion of I-8 is projected to almost double.

Securing Dollars

The $44 million project is funded through the State Regional Improvement Program and the Federal High Priority Projects Program.

Goals

  • Provide access from Interstate 8 (I-8) to southbound Imperial Avenue-- planned to be extended south of the freeway by the City of El Centro, and eliminate the current out-of-direction travel on city streets and county roads;
  • Improve traffic safety by updating the existing interchange; and
  • Reduce traffic congestion at Imperial Avenue and 4th Street interchanges on I-8 in the city of El Centro.

What's ahead?

Project construction began April 2020 and is scheduled for completion early 2023. The project schedule has been advanced, and the interchange is expected to open to traffic late 2021 or early 2022, with plant establishment and close-out work continuing through 2023. 

Contact

Project Manager

Patrick Jenkins
(619) 894-1050 
patrick.jenkins@dot.ca.gov

Caltrans

4050 Taylor Street
San Diego, CA 92110
Ph: (619) 688-6670

 

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/

Follow @SDCaltrans on Twitter and Instagram; and like Caltrans District 11 on Facebook at www.facebook.com/CaltransDistrict11 for news related to state transportation in San Diego and Imperial counties.

Maps - Mapas

01-map 1. I-8 Imperial Detour Full Closure. Nighttime full freeway closures including closing the eastbound and westbound Interstate 8/Imperial Avenue on and off-ramps will take place several times as needed through the course of the project. Motorists on eastbound Interstate 8 will be detoured to northbound Forester Road to eastbound Evan Hewes Highway, to 4th Street/State Route 86 to Interstate 8. Motorists on westbound Interstate 8 will be detoured to northbound 4th Street/State Route 86 to westbound Evan Hewes Highway to southbound Forester Road to Interstate 8. For more information call (619) 688-6670 or email CT.Public.Information.D11@dot.ca.gov
02-map 2. I-8 Imperial Detour Stage 1. Stage 1 of the project will include closing eastbound Interstate 8/Imperial Avenue on and off-ramps for eight to ten months. Motorists on Interstate 8 will be detoured along 4th Street/State Route 86 located east of Imperial Avenue. The westbound Interstate 8/Imperial on and off-ramps will remain open during Stage 1 work. For more information call (619) 688-6670 or email CT.Public.Information.D11@dot.ca.gov
03-map 3. I-8 Imperial Detour Stage 2. Stage 2 of the project will include closing westbound I-8/Imperial Avenue on and off-ramps for the remainder of the project, six to eight months. There will be no access from eastbound/westbound Interstate 8 to Imperial Avenue and no access from Imperial Avenue to eastbound/westbound Interstate 8. A portion of Imperial Avenue will be closed adjacent to the intersection with no through-access northward or southward of the closure. Motorists on Interstate 8 will be detoured along 4th Street/State Route 86 located east of Imperial Avenue. For more information call (619) 688-6670 or email CT.Public.Information.D11@dot.ca.gov
04-map 4. I-8 Imperial Interchange Project Map. The Interstate 8 Imperial Interchange Project Map shows the perimeters of the project along one mile of Interstate 8 at the Imperial Avenue interchange and a segment of Imperial Avenue from Ocotillo Drive to the north of the interchange, to the end of Imperial Avenue just south of Interstate 8. Southbound Imperial Avenue will end at a dead-end with a barricade in preparation for future expansion by the City of El Centro. The Interstate 8 Imperial Avenue Interchange project will remove the existing bridge and eastbound on and off-ramps. The project will reconstruct the eastbound and westbound Interstate 8 on and off-ramps at Imperial Avenue and will include an entrance loop ramp at the southwest quadrant of the interchange. The westbound Interstate 8 on and off-ramps at Imperial Avenue will have a traffic signal and safety lighting improvements. For more information call (619) 688-6670 or email CT.Public.Information.D11@dot.ca.gov
05-map 5. I-8 Imperial Ave. Staging Exhibit. The Interstate 8 Imperial Avenue Staging Exhibit shows Imperial Avenue Interchange Reconstruction. Stage 1 work on the southern portion of Interstate 8 will include the following construction activities: place construction signs, place concrete barriers and restriping lanes, remove the existing eastbound Interstate 8/Imperial on and off-ramps, remove and reconstruct the overcrossing bridge, construct abutments, a settlement period and constructing new connectors, gore areas, drainage areas, and new infiltration basins. Traffic impacts include closing eastbound Interstate 8/Imperial Avenue on and off-ramps for eight to ten months with no access from eastbound Interstate 8 to Imperial Avenue and no access to eastbound Interstate 8 from Imperial Avenue. Stage 2 construction on the northern portion of Interstate 8 will include the following construction activities: Place additional construction signs, place concrete barriers and lane restriping, construct retaining walls, remove and reconstruct westbound Interstate 8/Imperial Avenue on and off-ramps, continue work on new connectors including gore areas, install drainage infiltration basins, and place new pavement delineation. Traffic impacts for Stage 2 include closing all Interstate 8/Imperial Avenue on and off-ramps for six to eight months with no access from eastbound/westbound Interstate 8 to Imperial Avenue and no access from Imperial Avenue to eastbound/westbound Interstate 8. A portion of Imperial Avenue will be closed adjacent to the intersection with no through-access northward or southward of the closure. Crews expect to open the Interstate 8 Imperial Avenue intersection to traffic summer 2021. For more information call (619) 688-6670 or email CT.Public.Information.D11@dot.ca.gov

Construction Gallery - Galeria

Image 01 - Imperial Avenue Interchange Project shows earthmoving work from May 2020. For more information call (619) 688-6670 or email CT.Public.Information.D11@dot.ca.gov
Image 02 - Imperial Avenue Interchange Project shows earthmoving work from May 2020. For more information call (619) 688-6670 or email CT.Public.Information.D11@dot.ca.gov
image-03 Bridge Demolition 01 – For more information call (619) 688-6670 or email CT.Public.Information.D11@dot.ca.gov
image-04 Bridge Demolition 02 – For more information call (619) 688-6670 or email CT.Public.Information.D11@dot.ca.gov
image-05 Bridge Demolition 03 – For more information call (619) 688-6670 or email CT.Public.Information.D11@dot.ca.gov
image-06 Bridge Demolition 04 – For more information call (619) 688-6670 or email CT.Public.Information.D11@dot.ca.gov
image-07 I-8/Imperial before bridge demolition image. For more information call (619) 688-6670 or email CT.Public.Information.D11@dot.ca.gov
image-08 I-8/Imperial after bridge demolition image. For more information call (619) 688-6670 or email CT.Public.Information.D11@dot.ca.gov
image-09 Construction Progress as of March 23, 2021 – For more information call (619) 688-6670 or email CT.Public.Information.D11@dot.ca.gov
Image-10 Construction Progress as of March 23, 2021 – For more information call (619) 688-6670 or email CT.Public.Information.D11@dot.ca.gov
image-11 Construction Progress as of March 23, 2021 – For more information call (619) 688-6670 or email CT.Public.Information.D11@dot.ca.gov

Latest News

Full Closure of I-8/Imperial Avenue Intersection begins Thursday, Dec. 3 at 9 p.m. Both eastbound and westbound I-8 ramps at Imperial Avenue will remain closed for six to eight months for Stage 2 work.

Project News