DEL MAR — Identifying the newly restored San Dieguito Lagoon will soon become easier. The
state Department of Transportation recently approved a request from the San Dieguito River Park Joint Powers Authority to install two river and lagoon guide signs on Interstate 5.
Caltrans notified the agency of its decision in a Jan. 22 letter to Solana Beach City Councilman Dave Roberts, chairman of the JPA, which operates and maintains the San Dieguito River Park.
One guide sign will be installed north of Del Mar Heights Road and another will be located south of Via de la Valle, according to Dick Bobertz, JPA executive director.
Caltrans will also replace the existing southbound I-5 bridge sign that reads “San Dieguito River” and install a new northbound bridge identification sign.
The total cost to purchase and install the new signs is $2,500. “We have an offer of $1,000 from a San Dieguito River Valley Conservancy member to serve as a match to encourage other private contributors,” Bobertz said. Funds for the project were not allocated in the current JPA budget.
JPA began discussing the signs with Caltrans in August 2008. “Although Caltrans is a very large organization and it takes time to work through their process, Pedro Orso-Delgado, district director, has always worked with us to achieve a fair outcome,” Bobertz said.
How soon the signs will be installed depends on how long it takes JPA to raise the money. Similar signage is already in place for San Elijo and Batiquitos lagoons.
previous post
