County Paves the Way for Improved Coast Highway

Improvements in the traffic flow and appearance of the coastal highway through San Dieguito won unanimous approval Wednesday from the county Board of Supervisors.

Most of the disagreements between county planners and members of the citizen group that worked on the yearlong road study were resolved before the county board approved the plan.

The improvements will include creation of a litter removal program, financed by property owners, along the right-of-way of the highway, also known as Old Highway 101, which once was the main artery between Los Angeles and San Diego. Interstate 5 became the major north-south route in the late 1960s.

Residents sought to place utility lines underground along nearby Vulcan, San Elijo and Nardo streets, running perpendicular to the highway, but settled for an agreement to negotiate with San Diego Gas & Electric Co. to speed up its program for placing utilities underground.

Also rejected by county traffic planners was a request to ease parking requirements for restaurants along the coastal route. However, county officials approved a $30,000 study to continue to seek solutions for parking and traffic congestion.

Cost of the project will be about $2.3 million.