Residents of Santee, California, and commuters from East County will have the opportunity to review plans for an improvement project aimed at alleviating traffic congestion on a six-mile stretch of state Route 52 (SR-52). The California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) will host a meeting on December 29, 2023, to discuss potential enhancements between Interstate 15 and state Route 125, focusing on the Mast Boulevard Interchange. This initiative is in collaboration with the San Diego Association of Governments and the City of Santee.
Traffic congestion along SR-52 has been a persistent concern for local residents. A coalition of East County leaders and environmental groups formed over seven years ago specifically to address these challenges. The current project proposes the addition of managed lanes, improvements to bottlenecks, and the relocation of a bike path to enhance overall traffic flow.
The proposed scope of work includes several key modifications:
– Converting the westbound #1 lane to a managed lane from Mast Boulevard to Santo Road.
– Transforming the existing two-way bike path on the north side of the freeway into a 4.7-mile-long auxiliary/truck climbing lane running westbound from Mast Boulevard to Santo Road.
– Relocating the bike path to the south side of SR-52.
– Widening the westbound on-ramp from Mast Boulevard to a two-lane ramp.
– Restriping westbound SR-52 from two lanes to three lanes from SR-125 to Mast Boulevard.
– Restriping eastbound SR-52 from two lanes to three lanes from Mast Boulevard to east of the San Diego River Bridge, maintaining three eastbound through lanes to SR-125.
Local resident Dan Howe, who has lived in Santee for six years and commutes several times a week, expressed his support for the proposed changes. He frequently takes alternate routes to avoid traffic bottlenecks and believes that adding lanes in both directions would significantly help reduce congestion. He also supports converting the bike path into a truck climbing lane, as he notes that sharing the road with trucks can exacerbate traffic issues.
Despite his overall support, Howe voiced concerns regarding the proposed managed lane from Mast Boulevard to Santo Road. He stated, “I know that would be unpopular for the obvious reasons; traffic is bad during the commute times, and most people commuting are going to different places, they’re not carpooling.” He added that restricting access to this lane could worsen the situation for many drivers.
Public input is a crucial aspect of the environmental phase of this highway improvement project, which commenced in summer 2023 and is expected to conclude in August 2028. The design phase is slated to begin in 2028, with construction anticipated to be completed by summer 2034. Stephen Welborn, communications manager for Caltrans, emphasized the importance of community feedback during this process. “Proposals are not set in stone at all; we are asking them to comment on those specific proposals and if there are additional proposals from the public we will take those as well,” he noted.
The public meeting is scheduled to begin at 18:00 at Santee City Hall, providing residents with an opportunity to voice their opinions and concerns. Comments can also be submitted in writing or via email through a link available on the Caltrans website, with the deadline for submissions set for December 29, 2023. This initiative represents a significant step toward addressing long-standing traffic challenges in the region and enhancing the commuting experience for local residents.
