The newly relocated and upgraded Rose Canyon Bike Path opened to the public on Wednesday afternoon, in time for the July 4th holiday.
Relocating and upgrading the Rose Canyon Bike Path was necessary to support construction of the Mid-Coast Trolley, to allow space for two new light rail tracks for the future Trolley and a second heavy rail track for the passenger and freight trains that run through the canyon. When the Trolley opens in late 2021, this complete corridor will provide San Diegans with efficient multi-modal transportation choices.
The new bike path features 2,100 tons of new asphalt pavement and more than 7,000 feet of new fencing and guardrail. Additional upgrades include striped lanes, underground utilities, and landscaping. Storm drainage has also been improved to prevent future flooding in this area, something that previously impacted cyclists and pedestrians traveling through Rose Canyon.
A 1,000-foot section of the new bike path, near Gilman Drive/La Jolla Colony Drive, will remain unfinished while crews complete construction of the Mid-Coast Trolley underpass. This section is anticipated to open in early 2020.
EDIT: (December 13, 2019) The realigned Rose Canyon Bike Path is now open! MCTC crews completed paving the final section of the path this afternoon. Thank you for your patience during construction!
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MidCoastAlert: This summer, two sections of the Rose Canyon Bike Path will be relocated to the newly constructed permanent bike path. Please watch for signs.
Permanent Realignment of Rose Canyon Bike Path: In summer 2019, two sections of the Rose Canyon Bike Path will be relocated to the newly constructed permanent bike path. A portion of the temporary bike path that is now located on the shoulder of Interstate 5 will move to the newly constructed path by Monday, June 17, 2019. A second portion of the temporary bike path, now located along I-5 from north of Santa Fe Street to just north of SR-52, will move to the newly constructed path by Wednesday, July 3, 2019. Signs will be posted directing cyclists to the new permanent bike path. Please use caution when traveling near the work zone.
MidCoastAlert: In the past few weeks, parking has been removed along the east side of Santa Fe St., from 5965 to 5097 Santa Fe St., for Rose Creek Bikeway construction. Please watch for parking removal signage.
The Rose Creek Bikeway is more than 50 percent complete and is anticipated to open to the public by mid-2020, and the bicycling community couldn’t be more pleased.
“It’s an important connection for both commuters and recreational bicyclists that will be a separated Class I bike path that connects existing sections of the Rose Canyon and Rose Creek bike paths in the City of San Diego,” said Andy Hanshaw, executive director of the San Diego County Bicycle Coalition.
“The Rose Creek Bikeway provides connectivity and accessibility for non-car centric mobility options,” said Kristin Victor, who’s helping create an EcoDistrict in Pacific Beach.
“The Friends of Rose Creek is thrilled to see the amazing progress on the Rose Creek Bikeway and look forward to the grand opening when the community will gain access to new areas of Rose Creek,” said Karin Zirk of Friends of Rose Creek.
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“With the mid-coast trolley line currently under construction, the Rose Creek Bikeway will also be an important connector to those wishing to access the trolley from Pacific Beach, UTC, Sorrento Valley and UC San Diego areas,” Hanshaw said.
“It’s an exciting time to see implementation taking place for long-planned bikeways designed to give safe, connected networks for folks to choose to bicycle more to get to/from work and to move around the region. We look forward to more projects coming on line in the next few years, and know that this will result in increased ridership, safer streets and healthier communities,” Hanshaw said.
Victor noted creation of the Rose Creek Bikeway gives coastal communities more transportation options. “It gives the opportunity to create prosperity with the integration of safe parkland, bicycle and pedestrian pathways along the creek supporting the equity, resilience and climate protection imperatives of the Pacific Beach EcoDistrict and connectivity to the future Pacific Beach/Balboa Area Transit station,” she said.
Zirk noted Rose Creek Bikeway could be a catalyst for better things to come. “We hope, as more members of the community have the opportunity to ride a bike path along the creek, they will advocate for Rose Creek now and in the future to maintain this amazing wetland in the middle of San Diego,” she said.