Bear Valley Parkway North Widening Project

The Bear Valley Parkway in Escondido provides commuters with important access to Interstate 15 (I-15)—but the route was notoriously congested during peak traffic hours. After performing multiple studies, the County of San Diego determined that roadway widening was necessary to improve traffic flow and comply with the Circulation Element of the County General Plan.

The project received a 2016 CTF Transportation Award.

The County selected Harris & Associates to provide resident engineering and construction inspection support services for the project. Along with our partners, we helped widen one mile of two-lane road to four lanes, which now provides a safer, more reliable way to travel and connects communities to support future growth. Our engineering experts also managed intersection enhancements along with new sidewalks, crossings, and designated bike lanes.

Core Elements

Components of this $16.5 million, high-profile project included:

• Two new travel lanes with a center median, using approximately 10,000 tires recycled for rubberized asphalt
• Construction of a bicycle lane
• Sidewalk, shoulder, parkway, and landscaping improvements in each direction, including 10,000 feet of new sidewalk
• Installation of curbs, gutters, a traffic signal system, and storm drain systems
• Relocation of water line and gas line
• Undergrounding of 8,000 feet of overhead utility lines
• Planting over 150 new native trees

Harris managed numerous moving parts during the two-year project, including the construction site, a water pollution control plan, erosion control BMPs, roadway excavation, structural backfill, asphalt pavement and dikes, geogrid reinforcement, traffic striping, traffic control, flume down drains, tapered inlets, and jute mesh.

Beyond the Blueprints

Existing homes and private properties border the Bear Valley Parkway, which required Harris and partners to work only during the day to minimize disruptions. The team also opted for rubberized asphalt to help reduce overall street noise and maintain the area’s rural feel.

In addition, Harris maintained close communications with the public via homeowner notifications, a phone hotline, and a website posting relevant and timely information. All residents who called the hotline or communicated with the construction team received a direct line to contact Harris’ Resident Engineer to resolve any issues quickly. These efforts led to wide acceptance of the project throughout the community.

Working around existing utility infrastructure posed another unique challenge—one that required Harris engineers to coordinate with utilities during dedicated construction windows. Our team’s quick preparation for the changes helped bring the project to completion almost three months early.