Interstate 5 express lane work gets OK for Carlsbad, Oceanside

This Caltrans rendering shows a possible configuration for a pedestrian bridge across San Elijo Lagoon under Interstate 5 in Encinitas. (Caltrans photo)

North Coast Current
January 3, 2020

Construction of new express lanes along Interstate 5 will continue north in 2020 after a green light from the Coastal Commission, the San Diego Association of Governments announced.

The approval came in December for the last segment of express lane construction from Palomar Airport Road in Carlsbad north to Route 78 in Oceanside, according to the announcement. One new express lane will be installed in each direction.

“These express lanes are an integral part of the vision for this entire project, which includes rail, pedestrian and bike, and coastal infrastructure improvements stretching from San Diego to Oceanside,” Caltrans Director Toks Omishakin said in the announcement.

Construction is set to begin in the fall with completion in two years, pending funding, officials said.

The express lanes are among the final freeway projects in the Build North Coast Corridor program, part of a $6 billion, four-decade plan for highway, rail, bike, pedestrian and environmental improvements.

“The North Coast Corridor multi-billion-dollar improvements along I-5 are integral to the connectivity of the region,” SANDAG Executive Director Hasan Ikhrata said in the announcement.

Caltrans, SANDAG and the U.S. Department of Transportation are collaborating on Build NCC, which includes projects in Solana Beach, Encinitas and Carlsbad. San Elijo Lagoon restoration has been part of the program, in addition to the double-tracking of the rail line and replacement of freeway and train bridges across the lagoon.

More information online: keepsandiegomoving.com/BuildNCC.

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2 Comments

2 Responses to “Interstate 5 express lane work gets OK for Carlsbad, Oceanside”

jon_wick on January 4th, 2020 9:50 pm

when our tax dollars are used to build lanes that will exclude lots of those taxpayers we are being discriminated against by our government. how can a mom and a baby qualify to use the exclusive lane? or any adult with a Child?
Charlie King on January 5th, 2020 4:10 pm

I completely agree with Jon Wick. But believe it or not, the disenfranchisement of the San Diego tax payers and others who pay state and federal tax is far greater at the beginning and during bidding on the RFP or RFQ’s from the city. I realize the projects are different from SanDag to the City of San Diego, but understand they both collect taxes that everyone pays, but have disenfranchised the tax payer by only allowing union companies to bid on many if not all the capital improvement projects up for bid. It seems to me that it would be unconstitutional to tax everyone but only allow workers who are a protected class (union) to work on the project. Or only take bids from union signatory companies. On any other planet that would be called discrimination of non-union labor.

Fo instance,
https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.sandiegouniontribune.com/communities/san-diego/story/2019-09-27/san-diegos-landmark-water-recycling-program-halted-by-dispute-over-union-workers%3f_amp=true

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