San Vicente Road Improvement Project

San Vicente Road is located in the community of Ramona within the unincorporated area of the County of San Diego, California. San Vicente Road functions as a link between Ramona to the north, the Country Estates community to the east, and the Barona Ranch Indian Reservation and the community of Lakeside to the south. San Vicente Road functions as a connector of nearby communities to parks, shopping centers, businesses, and schools. The San Vicente Improvements project consisted of 2.25 miles of roadway realignment/widening which vastly improved traffic safety while providing walkability, bicycling and equestrian activities, and preserving the natural characteristics of the community. The project followed a “complete street” infrastructure incorporating disintegrated granite (DG) multi-use pathways, multiple drainage basins, and bike lanes in both directions of traffic. The major challenges to construct this project were that both the horizontal and vertical alignments had to be modified while keeping the two lanes open for traffic at all times. In addition, to make the project even more challenging the existing water service pipes had to be replaced and relocated to the ultimate location and depth with minimal service disruption to the residents. The Barnett Ranch Preserve is located at approximately the middle of the 2.25 miles of roadway improvement. This improvement project served to connect the community of Ramona and the San Diego Country Estates at the entrance to the Barnett Ranch Preserve which has over 4 miles of trails that are used extensively by the equestrian community and hikers. In order to adhere to the complete street features and enhance the community appearance, as part of this project, utility lines on overhead power poles adjacent to the existing roadway were undergrounded. Coordination with multiple utility companies, community members, emergency services, and public outreach during the design and implementation of the roadway improvements and utility undergrounding made this project a success. The project included bio-retention basins and bio-filtration features to reduce stormwater runoff and associated pollutants from the roadway. Every effort was taken to minimize right-of-way impacts and the effects on the environment while enhancing public safety, improving the infrastructure, and maintaining the rural community character. As a result of this regionally significant improvement project the community has a safer, cleaner, and more sustainable roadway which serves to more efficiently and effectively connect the surrounding communities. Pedestrians, bicyclists, and equestrians from the surrounding communities now have safer and more appealing ways to share the roadway with motor vehicle traffic.