SAN DIEGO (KGTV) - Extended construction work next to Friars Road has drivers wondering when the Mission Valley street will be back to normal.
What is normally a four-lane road is now two, as SANDAG completes an $85 million project. Crews are taking out a bridge with one track on it and replacing it with three bridges and four tracks. Two tracks will serve the Coaster and heavy freight trains. The other tracks are for the blue line trolley to La Jolla.
“Every day that I have to pass this, it's just an eyesore,” said Katherine Whitley, who has spent two years driving through construction. “It clogs traffic. Everybody knows Friars Road has grown and grown and this isn't the right place for this to be.”
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Bicyclists are also concerned about construction danger.
“The cars going that way are passing me going 55 miles an hour about three feet away from me. So it feels pretty sketchy,” said Greg Zackowski.
SANDAG said it is doing everything it can to minimize the impact of construction. The equipment can’t be put in the San Diego River because of the environmental impact. Moving gear on and off Friars Road would have delayed the project, SANDAG said.
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Within six months, SANDAG hopes to have enough work done to move out most of the equipment. All of Friars Road should be finished by the end of 2019.
