Project Overview
SANDAG and Caltrans are working together on the I-5/SR 56 Interchange Project, a multiphased effort to improve traffic operations along I-5 between Del Mar Heights Road and Carmel Mountain Road and along SR 56 between I-5 and just before Carmel Valley Road. The project is part of the 27-mile North Coast Corridor program and aims to improve local and regional traffic on two of San Diego’s most critical freeways.
Schedule
Phase 1 (Open to the Public)
Phase 1 added a new high-occupancy vehicle (HOV) lane in each direction on SR 56 between El Camino Real and Gonzales Creek Bridge, just before Carmel Valley Road. It opened to traffic in July 2025.
Phase 2 (In Progress)
In Phase 2, we plan to construct a direct connector from westbound SR 56 to northbound I-5, replace and enhance the Del Mar Heights Road overcrossing, and add an additional westbound lane on SR 56.
Caltrans completed the final Environmental Impact Report/Environmental Impact Statement in 2017. Following extensive public outreach and technical study, they selected the Phased Connectors Alternative as the preferred alternative. The phased approach allows improvements to be delivered incrementally while minimizing impacts to traffic flow, nearby businesses, and surrounding communities.
Bike and Pedestrian Improvements
The vision for SR 56 includes a new bike path connection under I-5, which opened in 2024. It links the 8-mile SR 56 bike path to the North Coast Bike Trail and the Sorrento Valley Transit Station.
Budget
The cost of Phase 1 was $28 million, which came from federal transportation funds, the City of San Diego, and TransNet. Phase 2 is currently unfunded for final design and construction.