News

Actions

Residents: Trolley project makes road unsafe

Posted at 5:47 PM, May 23, 2018
and last updated 2018-05-23 20:47:34-04

People who live in Bay Park say a project to extend the trolley tracks up to La Jolla is making their main drag unsafe.
It's because crews keep changing the traffic patterns along Morena Boulevard. 
Betty Brock got rear ended in September, waiting in a single-lane backup. 
"What can I say, I was stopped and this car just plowed into the back of me," she said. 
The San Diego Association of Governments is currently extending the trolley through UC San Diego, ending at the Westfield UTC Mall - scheduled for completion in 2021. 
Work is ongoing along Morena Boulevard, a five mile stretch parallel to I-5. But as crews as work on one small section, the traffic calming remains in effect along the entire road. It is adjusted as they move down the road.

Brock said traffic gets very backed up during rush hour - when she was hit - and that she's concerned about bicyclists sharing lanes with cars on a straightaway. Other neighbors have raised issues with noise and dust. 
Jim Linthecum, overseeing the project for the SANDAG, says the agency is doing all it can to alert the public on changes - plus restriping lanes, adding detour signs, and turn arrows.
"We put the construction detour signs as clear as can be, the striping on the road make sure that's as clear as can be, and the turn arrows, and the signage, and we also do outreach," he said. "Sometimes it's door hangers, it's an e-blast."
Linthecum added SANDAG works with tcontractors to minimize any dust from the construction. He said crews should be done along Morena Boulevard by the end of the year.