Most neighborhood dwellers have attended a “block party,” but few have had the unique opportunity to experience a “freeway party” – until recently. On July 17, 2004, an estimated crowd of 10,000 to 12,000 people from throughout the San Diego gave the notion of gridlock a positive meaning as they jammed the freshly striped, four-lane stretch of road near the Camino del Sur interchange to celebrate the opening of State Route 56.
After a program and a helicopter flyover, San Diego Mayor Dick Murphy and other dignitaries, including newly appointed SANDAG Chair Mickey Cafagna, led a parade of classic cars and bicycles down the freeway. After breaking through a balloon wall, bicyclists were able to continue down the freeway for a three-mile trek. Attendees also enjoyed pony rides, face painting, games, information booths, fire and police car displays, live music, and food.
"This is an exiting time for our region,” said Cafagna. “Highway 56 is an important piece of our regional transportation plan. It also shows how vital the passage of Prop A will be in November. For without the contribution of nearly $90 million of TransNet dollars to the construction of this highway, this day may not have been possible."
The $220 million project – which opened to vehicle traffic July 19 – is expected to reduce traffic on Black Mountain Road, Mira Mesa Boulevard, Miramar Road and Carmel Valley Road. The new freeway will also balance the north-south traffic on I-5 and I-15. Plans call for eventually adding another two lanes.
The final section of the four-lane freeway, between Camino del Sur and Carmel Country Road, completes the nine-mile stretch between Interstate 5 and Interstate 15, and links the two previously finished sections. Initially, the new freeway will accommodate 65,000 vehicles per day. That will increase to between 84,000 and 120,000 vehicles a day by the year 2020.
Project Manager: Dean Hiatt
(619) 699-6978
