San Diego real estate blog - Peter Toner

If you often travel on I-15 you couldn’t help but notice the extensive construction being done to the freeway. The 20 mile long project continues up and down I-15 between State Route (SR) 163 and SR 78. Once completed it will be a state-of-the-art Express Lane facility. The billion dollar project is being completed to allow for maximum capacity, alleviate traffic congestion, and will impress travelers by its innovated design.

The entire project will not be completed until 2012, and will be built in different phases so that it does not disturb traffic. The first phase is due to open in late summer of 2008, 4.5 mile stretch from SR 56/Ted Williams Parkway to Rancho Bernardo Road. An additional 3.5 mile stretch will open from the Express Lanes north of Rancho Bernardo Road to Centre City Parkway in Escondido. Completed in late winter it will be a total of 16 miles of Express Lane for commuter travel.

In 2011 the second phase extending north from Centre City Parkway to SR 78 is due to be completed. A third section will be completed in 2012 and will modify and revamp the current eight-mile stretch of Express Lanes that are located between SR 56/Ted Williams Parkway and Kearny Mesa.

The I-15 project is an innovative project that will provide Express Lanes for vanpools, carpools, buses, and FasTrak® (single occupancy vehicles who’s owners pay per trip) ensuring customers with a smoother trip along the busy corridor; and also will relieve strain on the general purpose lanes.