Roads & Infrastructure

Genesee Widening

Genesee Avenue is one of the most heavily-traveled roads in the First Council District, connecting several residential and business communities, forming a lifeline for residents, commuters and visitors alike. The Genesee Avenue corridor connects some of our region's most successful academic institutions and technology, healthcare and biotech research companies.

The booming success of UCSD and businesses in the Golden Triangle outpaced the ability of local roads to keep up with demand. Traffic onto Interstate 5 begins backing up at 4:00 p.m. or sooner most weekdays, causing lengthy delays. Some businesses have resorted to staggered work schedules and flexible hours to manage the traffic impact.

Council President Peters is pleased to let you know that relief is on the way. This month, the City began work on the Genesee Avenue Widening Project. This $4.1 million project expands Genesee from four to six lanes between Campus Point Drive and the Interstate 5 interchange, completing the vision for Genesee laid out in the University City community plan. View the Project Fact Sheet.

In addition to the physical widening of the road, new turn lanes are planned for Scripps Memorial Hospital and Campus Point Drive, to reduce delays entering and exiting the hospital campus and the employment centers along Campus Point. New and existing medians and sidewalks will be built and improved, and new landscaping will add color and life to this major thoroughfare.

To anticipate the planned expansion of the Interstate 5 overpass, the existing median will be replaced and lanes will be re-striped to add a second turn lane. City engineers predict this will offer interim relief as we continue to lobby for state and federal transportation funds needed for the much larger I-5 overpass replacement project. Mayor Sanders, Councilman Jim Madaffer and Peters have lobbied our elected leaders in Washington, D.C. and Sacramento on behalf of this much-needed widening, which will also require reconstructing the bridge. We are hopeful that it will be included in the next round of major transportation grants.

A project of the size and scope of the Genesee widening will cause some delays and inconvenience and requires our patience and understanding. Crews will work in two shifts to minimize delays during peak traffic hours, but it is likely that congestion will increase due to lane closures and road work during some of the construction. City engineers recognize the importance of quickly finishing this project. We expect all work to be complete by late summer of 2008. When the project is complete, I think you will agree that the delays and minor inconveniences were worth it.

If you have questions about the Genesee Avenue widening project, or would like to receive monthly email updates, please call the project hotline at (619) 533-7539 or email Leslie Emmanuel at lesliee@collaborativeservices.biz.