For about two months, North County San Diegans have been detoured around one of their most-significant thoroughfares, which caused headaches and delays as drivers snaked around the city to avoid the closure. On Monday, Caltrans crews announced the traffic nightmare is over -- the SR-78 will reopen for the evening commute.
The lengthy closure began March 15 when a massive sinkhole appeared during one of the many atmospheric river storms that drenched San Diego County last winter and early spring. Workers had to excavate up to 60 feet down and then rebuild the roadway, starting first with westbound lanes between College Boulevard and El Camino Real before work could begin on eastbound lanes.
Each direction's closure lasted more than a month and faced several delays despite crews working overnight, 7 days a week to replace 70-year-old metal corrugated pipes with nine new concrete culverts, said Caltrans District 11 maintenance chief Shawn Rizzuto.
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"Work that would normally take six to nine months to complete and we did it in three weeks," Rizzuto said.
"We were delayed because of several rain events... That was challenging for us to work in the rain. There was significant rainfall through the area, which caused us quite a bit of delay to be honest with you."
Caltrans said the emergency project cost more than $21 million but is expected to last 50 years before any more repairs are needed. Caltrans previously said they would request emergency funds from the federal government since the damage was weather-related but it was not yet clear if the ask had been made.
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Some night closures and shoulder closures may be in place for the next two weeks while the final details of the project are completed, Caltrans said.
Even with these repairs, the work on the long stretch of freeway between Oceanside and Escondido is far from over. Caltrans announced last week they are also rehabilitating 35 aging culverts at on- and off-ramps along SR-78 between Interstate 5 and I-15.
The roadwork is expected to last through mid-2025 with overnight closures from 9 p.m. to 5 a.m.
The El Camino Real overpass, which passes over where the latest road work was completed, will also be shut down for resurfacing. Other work includes repairing and replacing concrete medians, guard railing, fencing and street signs, electrical wiring and landscaping.
This additional roadwork alone is expected to cost another $22 million and is mostly being paid for with federal funds with another 12% is funded by the 2017 voter-approved Senate Bill 1, Caltrans said.
