Completed Projects/Issues - Roads & Infrastructure

Councilman Scott Peters speaks at the opening of the SR56 Freeway on July 17.

Councilman Scott Peters and staff celebrate the opening of SR56!

SR56 Opens!!!

View photos from the event!

On July 17, 2004 Councilman Scott Peters, Mayor Dick Murphy, and other local and state officials, joined more than 10,000 San Diegans in a celebration to mark the long-awaited opening of State Route 56. Residents were invited to ride their bicycles on the freeway, and over 10,000 people of all ages took advantage of this unique opportunity.

"The SR 56 freeway has been a top priority for the families in my district, and I am glad that we were able to get results for them," Councilmember Peters said. "Residents who have been waiting for decades for this freeway will certainly enjoy the bike ride and festivities that mark an end to this long wait."

Councilman Peters and Mayor Murphy formed the Freeway Congestion Strike Team shortly after being elected in 2000 and promised the opening of SR56 in Summer of 2004. The Freeway Congestion Strike Team also includes Councilman Brian Maeinschein, County Supervisor Pam Slater-Price, and representatives from SANDAG and CalTrans. The team worked to make SR56 the number one priority for the San Diego region and kept the freeway on schedule to open in July of 2004, despite state budget shortfalls.

"This is a huge victory in our fight to relieve traffic congestion," Mayor Dick Murphy said. "I personally take a great deal of pride in this day. One of the main reasons I created the Freeway Congestion Strike Team was to get this project completed. Now that goal has been accomplished."

The final section of the four-lane freeway, between Camino del Sur and Carmel Valley Road, completes the nine- mile stretch between Interstate 5 and Interstate 15. The entire length of State Route 56 cost approximately $220 million, with $56 million spent on the last section of the freeway. Funding for the project came from city, county, state and SANDAG sources. Home builders in the area have also contributed to the project.

Councilman Peters is also very pleased that the SR56 opened with a complete interchange at Camino Del Sur. Through a creative public / private partnership the Camino Del Sur interchange was opened 3 years ahead of its scheduled opening in 2006. Councilman Peters recognized the need to open this interchange to relieve traffic on Black Mountain Road and provide better access to Westview High School. By working with the Mayor's Freeway Congestion Strike Team, and members of the Torrey Highlands Development Community, the City was able to get the development community in the area to advance $40 million to move up the completion of the interchange by 3 years. The first side of the interchange was opened in April of 2003. The early completion saved taxpayers $2.2 million and the project won a Taxpayer Watchdog Award from the San Diego County Taxpayer's Association.

Caltrans opened the new stretch of freeway to vehicle traffic on Monday, July 19, 2004 at 5 a.m.