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SR-78 Asset Management Project

Project Overview

The SR-78 Asset Management Project will enhance a 17.7-mile stretch of State Route 78, from Interstate 5 in Oceanside to Broadway and Lincoln Parkway in Escondido. This important effort is focused on preserving existing infrastructure, improving safety, and modernizing the corridor to meet current and future transportation needs.

The project will rehabilitate pavement along the main roadway, shoulders, and freeway ramps to extend the life of the existing highway. Beyond resurfacing, the project incorporates a broad range of upgrades to improve performance, safety, and environmental conservation.

Planned improvements include cold planing and overlaying the traveled way, as well as the inside and outside shoulders and entrance/exit ramps, to preserve and extend the life of the existing pavement. This project will also utilize asset management principles to improve the conditions of satellite corridor assets, including roadside worker safety, traffic management system (TMS), collision reduction and bridge preservation; as well as to ensure compliance with state and/or federal mandates.

Project Map. For more information, call (619) 688-6670 or email CT.Public.Information.D11@dot.ca.gov

 

Goals

  • Long-Term Efficiency by extending pavement life through resurfacing and rehabilitation, reducing the need for major future repairs.
  • Focus on fiscal conservation by maintaining and improving existing infrastructure instead of costly replacements.
  • Enhancing Safety by improving traffic flow with updated traffic management systems and operational upgrades to increase accessibility for all travelers.

What to Expect

Daytime work will be conducted from 6:30 am to 3:30 pm. Intermittent ramp and lane closures will happen in the evening from 9:00 pm to 5:00 am. A few full roadway closures are to be expected in the evenings in the eastbound and westbound lanes east of Rancho Santa Fe Rd.

Project Features

The SR 78 Asset Management Project work will include:

  • ADA-compliant curb ramps and upgraded traffic signals
  • Enhanced drainage systems to manage stormwater
  • Modernized Traffic Management Systems (TMS) for better flow and response
  • New sign panels and improved lighting
  • Bridge rail upgrades for added safety
  • Upgrading 48 guardrail systems to reduce collision severity
  • Roadside improvements to reduce collision severity
  • Implementing holistic long-term solutions and safety enhancements for drivers and pedestrians by repaving 80 lane miles from Emerald Dr in Vista to Broadway in Escondido and rebuilding pedestrian crossing at 91 curb ramp locations.
  • Upgraded Weigh-In-Motion systems to improve freight operations
  • Repaving the Park N Ride at Broadway in Escondido
  • Construction of an eastbound lane between Las Posas Rd and San Marcos Blvd
  • Widening the Mar Vista Dr bridge
  • Culvert and drainage rehabilitation
  • Landscaping and irrigation
  • Bike lane striping
  • Traffic Management Systems (TMS) upgrades including CCTV (Closed Circuit television) locations, ramp metering systems, loop detectors, traffic signal upgrades and video detection, adding fiber optic, and adding HAR (Highway Advisory Radar) 
  • Concrete barrier replacement
  • Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) improvements including traffic monitoring, electrical, vehicle detection, cameras, and census counters
  • Weigh In Motion (WIM) installation and slab replacement east of Rancho Santa Fe Rd (eastbound/westbound)

Project Benefits

Improving safety in the district including communities of concern by addressing pavement defects, reducing the risk of crashes caused by poor road conditions. Preventative maintenance through rehabilitation lowers costs in the long term and can reduce the environmental impact of building new highways.

  • Improved Safety: Addressing pavement wear and other hazards helps reduce crash risks and enhances driver control.
  • Cost-Effective Maintenance: Preventative rehabilitation is significantly more economical than full reconstruction.
  • Reduced Traffic Impacts: Upgrading existing infrastructure minimizes the impact of new construction.
  • Enhanced Mobility: Upgrades to traffic management systems and infrastructure will support smoother, more reliable travel.

Project Status

Construction began in May 2025 and will continue through 2027.

Timeline

  • Environmental: 2020-2022 | Completed
  • Design: 2022-0224 | Completed
  • Construction: 2025-2027

Project Cost

The project is estimated to cost approximately $126 million and is solely funded by the State Highway Operation Protection Program with $111.5 million in Federal funds ($9.2 IIJA) and $14.5 million in State Funds.

Contact

For More Information

Email: ct.public.information.D11@dot.ca.gov

Call: (619) 688-6670