Culverts slow intersection project, says Caltrans

Work on the state Route 67 and Highland Valley/Dye Road intersection improvement project has slowed for a short time while concrete box culverts are manufactured for drainage improvements, reported Caltrans.

The culverts and concrete pipe will be placed beneath SR-67 on both sides of the intersection and beneath Highland Valley Road in late September.

Installing the culverts will require one-way traffic control and will be scheduled at night to minimize impacts to motorists, said Caltrans. The transportation agency said signs will be placed ahead of time to alert drivers and it will issue a construction update when the night closures are confirmed.

In early August crews removed rumble strips from the median on SR-67 and re-striped the lanes to shift traffic toward the southbound side. The shift made room for work to widen the northbound shoulders.

Caltrans said it is monitoring the traffic signal timing at the intersection and making adjustments as needed to improve the flow of traffic.

July progress included shoulder excavation in both directions of SR-67, installing electrical conduits, and utility work by the Ramona Municipal Water District. Crews excavated the new bioswale on the northwest corner of Highland Valley Road and Route 67. Irrigation was installed from the northeast corner of Highland Valley Road and SR-67 to the new bioswale area.

With school back in session, Caltrans said there will be changing traffic patterns and more congestion in the project area during the morning commute. Motorists are advised to allow extra travel time to reach their destinations.

The project, aimed at improving traffic flow, is on schedule, said Caltrans, and will take about a year to complete. Caltrans partnered with the County of San Diego for the intersection improvements that are estimated to cost $14 million. Funding is provided by the State Highway Operation and Protection Program and San Diego County Transportation Impact Fees and TransNet funds.