Ortega Realignment Project will Present Major Challenges to San Juan Businesses and Residents - Online Presentation
Click on the
SlideRocket online presentation above
to view the update that
Representatives of CalTrans gave
on plans to improve and realign Ortega
Highway and its I-5 Interchange at the
Chamber’s March Networking Breakfast.
District 12’s Project Manager Nooshin
Yoosefi, Design Chief Matt Cugini and Public
Information Officer Tracey Lavelle gave a
detailed presentation that covered the
planned changes and a timeline of the
project. The construction will have major
impacts on Downtown San Juan which will have
to go without its primary Freeway access for
long periods of time.
The project will take place over a period of
2-3 years. During the majority of that time,
the Ortega overpass will shrink to just a
lane or two in each direction. For a short
period the overpass will be completely
closed to regular traffic – only a single
lane will be kept open for fire and
emergency vehicles.
Cugini noted that CalTrans does everything
it can to mitigate the impacts but
ultimately, it will be up to the community
to plan for this substantial disruption.
Chamber Executive Director Mark Bodenhamer
encouraged members to take his advice.
“We’re all going to be impacted by this
necessary improvement project. Its affect
will be compounded by the challenging
economy, but with smart planning on the part
of our City and the business community we’ll
be able to keep commerce moving in San
Juan,” Bodenhamer said.
After the presentation, the CalTrans
representatives spoke directly with
Councilman Larry Kramer and Public Works
Director Nasser Abbaszadeh. The group spoke
about the importance of coordinating this
project with others that will impact that
area, such as the Plaza Banderas Hotel, and
local road improvements at San Juan Creek
Rd.
The Chamber hosts monthly Networking
Breakfasts that feature speakers on topics
of community interest. Past topics have
included the Mission’s Gatehouse and La Sala
Preservation project and the installation of
Smart Meters by SDG&E. The breakfasts are
held the first Wednesday of each month from
8-9:30 a.m. at the Vintage Steakhouse.
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