District 11

Nov. 9, 2006

Contact: Public Information Officer Edward Cartagena Phone: (619) 688-6723 Cell (858) 688-1431

Closure on SR-78 Rescheduled to Jan. 2007

SAN DIEGO – A construction project on State Route 78 between San Felipe Road and Yaqui Pass Road has been rescheduled to accommodate area businesses and anticipated heavy traffic during the holiday season, according to the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans).

This safety project to upgrade the bridge over San Felipe Creek will start on Wednesday, Jan. 3 and take about a month to complete. When work starts next year, SR-78 will be closed in the vicinity of the bridge and motorists will need to take a detour that will add at least an hour on to their travel time. For motorists heading east toward Borrego Springs and Ocotillo Wells, the detour will take them on San Felipe Road, on to Montezuma Valley Road to Palm Canyon Drive and Borrego Springs Road/Yacqui Pass Road and back to SR-78.

Drivers heading west will reverse the detour -- Yaqui Pass Road/Borrego Springs Road, to Palm Canyon Drive and then to Montezuma Valley Road and San Felipe Road and back to SR-78.

Caltrans Spokesman Ed Cartagena said the Department has a small window to work within in order to accommodate business owners, residents and motorists, as well as to satisfy federal environmental requirements regarding various endangered species in the area. These environmental requirements restrict the Department from working on the bridge from March through September.

"It's a delicate balancing act, and we are doing our best to make sure none of the balls drop to the ground," Cartagena said. "Our primary concern is to make sure the bridge is safe for the public to use and that we abide by all state and federal laws in the process. We would also like to accommodate our neighbors as best we can during the duration of this necessary work."

The detour is obviously the result of limited alternative routes through the area and motorists will have to decide for themselves if it is an appropriate route for them.

# # # #