Project Overview
San Diego’s working waterfront is home to major military, industrial, and commercial activity, as well as some of the region’s oldest and most diverse neighborhoods. The area includes the U.S. Navy’s largest Pacific Fleet operation at Naval Base San Diego (NBSD), maritime commercial trade through the Port of San Diego’s Tenth Avenue Marine Terminal and National City Marine Terminal, and a busy shipyard supporting shipbuilding and repair industries—all critical to the region’s economy.
Harbor Drive is the primary north-south four-lane arterial road connecting the waterfront to Interstate 5 and State Route 15 through San Diego and National City. The Metropolitan Transit System (MTS) Blue Line Trolley and freight rail lines run parallel to the roadway.
Harbor Drive and the rail lines are essential for regional mobility and trade. Because the roadway and rail lines run between NBSD’s “wet side” (active water-facing side) and “dry side” (land facing side), thousands of Navy personnel enter the local roadways and queue at gates to move between the two sides. High demand and limited roadway capacity create significant congestion and air quality issues for nearby residents.
The Harbor Drive 2.0/Vesta Street Bridge project would:
- Improve mobility in the area through roadway and signal technology improvements on Harbor Drive
- Enhance Navy mission readiness and access between the wet side and dry side of NBSD via a new multimodal bridge at Vesta Street
- Improve efficiency and reliability for freight trucks and employees traveling to and from maritime cargo ports and shipyards
- Reduce impacts of freight on local communities in San Diego and National City
Schedule
Harbor Drive 2.0 and Vesta Street Bridge obtained environmental certification in December 2023. Both efforts are currently in the design phase. Future milestone completion dates are dependent on additional funding. Delivery of the project will occur in segments, with all components currently estimated to be open to traffic by 2034.
Budget
Caltrans and SANDAG have received $8.8 million in federal Coordinated Border Infrastructure (CBI) funds, $11 million in federal Reconnecting Communities Pilot Program (RCP) funds, $18.5 million in state SB 1 Trade Corridor Enhancement Program (TCEP) funds, and $2.18 million in local funds from the Port of San Diego. Additional funding is needed to complete the design, right-of-way, and construction phases.
The total estimated project cost is approximately $250 million, which includes all planned segments.
Connect with Us
Subscribe to the SANDAG Newsletter for updates on projects, programs, and opportunities to provide feedback that helps shape SANDAG’s work. For more information, contact SANDAG Project Manager Zach Hernandez at zachary.hernandez@sandag.org or Caltrans District 11 Project Manager Maggie Nuñez at margarita.r.nunez@dot.ca.gov.
