When will Torrey Pines Road trenching be finished? Soon, city says

A San Diego Gas & Electric project causing traffic backups along Torrey Pines Road near La Jolla’s Village is switching from daytime to nighttime hours and is scheduled to be completed by Friday, April 1.

The project to replace 40 feet of 6-inch gas line along Torrey Pines Road between Princess and Amalfi streets was permitted to begin March 14, according to San Diego city spokesman Scott Robinson.

A San Diego Gas & Electric project is replacing 40 feet of gas line along Torrey Pines Road between Amalfi Street and Princess Street, according to the city of San Diego.

(Bing Maps and La Jolla Light)

As trenching continued, crews reduced traffic in the area to one lane in either direction, causing delays on northeast-bound Torrey Pines starting around Ivanhoe Avenue. Traffic on westbound Torrey Pines would back up onto La Jolla Parkway.

Robinson said the city issued a new traffic control permit March 25, allowing SDG&E to complete the work between 9 p.m. and 5 a.m. Sundays through Thursdays instead of during the day.

SDG&E communications manager Sara Prince said the project resulted in a “higher traffic impact than anticipated” and confirmed the switch to nighttime work.

“We appreciate the community’s patience and understanding,” she added.

Hillside Drive regrading delayed

One block east of Princess Street, a city project to regrade the intersection of Torrey Pines Road and Hillside Drive to try to prevent trucks from becoming stuck on the Hillside incline has been postponed to after Labor Day in September, according to city spokesman Tyler Becker.

The project was originally slated to begin in March and be completed by Memorial Day, May 30. ◆