SAN DIEGO–Early Monday morning, a second bridge over the San Diego River opened to rail traffic.
The Coaster 630, heading south from Oceanside, was the first passenger train to travel over the newly completed bridge at 5:56 a.m.
The San Diego River Double Track project began construction in fall 2016. The first bridge over the San Diego River was completed in February 2018.
The $93.9 million project is a critical part of ongoing efforts by SANDAG to double track the Los Angeles-San Diego-San Luis Obispo (LOSSAN) corridor, the second busiest passenger rail line in the nation and a vital link in connecting the San Diego region with the rest of the country.
This project completes double tracking along the southernmost segment of the LOSSAN corridor. Passenger and freight trains can now travel continuously in each direction along the seven-mile stretch of railway that runs from Garnet Avenue/Balboa Avenue to the Santa Fe Depot in Downtown San Diego. This allows for more safe and efficient travel while moving people and goods through the San Diego region.
The bridges over the San Diego River were constructed concurrently with the Mid-Coast Trolley project. When complete, the Mid-Coast Trolley project will extend UC San Diego Blue Line Trolley service from Downtown San Diego to the University community.
The San Diego River Double Track project was funded through a combination of federal and local sources, including TransNet, the regional half-cent sales tax for transportation improvement projects.
