STATE OF CALIFORNIA - BUSINESS, TRANSPORTATION AND HOUSING AGENCY

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
District 11, P.O. Box 85406, San Diego, CA 92186-5406

FACT SHEET

STATE ROUTE 56
(I-5 EAST TO I-15)

**PROJECT COMPLETED**

OVERALL GOALS

• Provide an east-west arterial between the coastal communities (Del Mar, La Jolla and North City West) and the I-15 corridor communities (Penasquitos East, Carmel Mountain Ranch and Poway)
• Reduce traffic congestion on local arterial streets (Black Mountain Road, Miramar Road, Mira Mesa Boulevard and Del Dios Highway)
• Reduce out-of-direction travel and serve planned development in this area
• Provide a major link in the regional transportation network called the outer loop, consisting of SR-56, SR-125, SR-54 and SR-905

Project Map

THE PROJECT
Construct nine miles of four-lane freeway on new alignment in San Diego from Interstate 5 to Interstate 15. Major features of the project include construction of new roadways, bridges, interchanges, drainage facilities and environmental mitigation. The $18 million mitigation will stretch from I-5 to Carmel Country Road, and create wetlands south of the route as well as a sound berm and recreational paths along the top of the channel.

TRAFFIC
The project is expected to reduce traffic on Mira Mesa Boulevard and Miramar Road. These six-lane streets are already operating at or near capacity. The new freeway will also balance the north-south traffic on I-5 and I-15. Plans call for eventually adding another two lanes.

ENVIRONMENTAL CONCERNS
Three distinct route segments with different environmental concerns are evident along the route. North City West near I-5 and Rancho Penasquitos near I-15 are located in areas designated "Planned Urbanizing," and are experiencing heavy growth. In each case a freeway corridor has been reserved by developers. Growth is occurring on both sides of this corridor. Undeveloped open space, designated "Future Urbanizing," separates these communities. Environmental concerns include noise, cultural resources, floodplain and wetlands encroachment, revegetation of disturbed slopes, freeway planting and effects of growth.

FUNDS
Major funding for the project came from the TransNet local transportation sales tax program, supplemented by other federal, state and local funds. The project had a total construction cost of $40.9 million. Highway right of way for the Penasquitos East area has been reserved by developers. A portion of highway right of way in the North City West segment has also been reserved by developers.

Project Schedule

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