I-5 / Genesee Avenue Interchange - San Diego, CA

Vital Collaboration

Partnered with Caltrans, the City of San Diego, and the San Diego Association of Governments to meet the changing needs of the corridor

Innovative Water Services

Provided pipeline design services to replace an existing potable 24-inch pipe and relocate an existing 24-inch recycled water pipeline

Expedited Schedule

Leaned into our partnership with Caltrans to prepare the plans, specifications, and estimates in a compressed, six-month schedule

Kimley-Horn prepared the project approval and environmental documentation and the plans, specifications, and estimates (PS&E) for the reconstruction of the I-5/Genesee Avenue interchange in San Diego.

Project Recognition

Kimley-Horn I5/Genesee Avenue Interchange Improvements San Diego, CA

Delivering Diverse Services in an Accelerated Timeline

Kimley-Horn’s services included preliminary engineering and obtaining CEQA/NEPA environmental clearances. We prepared the PS&E on a compressed schedule, moving the design from 30% completion to final design within six months. This timeline required nimble adaptation, and our team coordinated closely with Caltrans to ensure success.

We designed a 10-lane overcrossing replacement for the existing five-lane Genesee Avenue bridge, widening and realigning the on- and off-ramps at Genesee Avenue and Roselle Street. Our team also designed a barrier-separated bike facility along I-5 from Voigt Drive to Roselle Street and developed a combined bicycle and pedestrian overcrossing over Genesee Avenue. Due to heavy traffic, adverse terrain, environmentally sensitive areas, and other physical constraints, the project required the following services and features:

Earthwork
Corridor study
Traffic analysis
Geometric improvements
Retaining walls
Stormwater management
Stormwater pollution prevention plan
Traffic management
Landscape architecture
Right-of-way engineering
Utility relocation

Due to the bridge length required by the future I-5 North Coast Corridor project, our team designed the south half of the bridge to be constructed higher and then lowered into place to meet the falsework clearance requirements and minimize the change in profile for Genesee Avenue. We also designed the pedestrian overcrossing over Genesee Avenue with conservative slopes to meet ADA requirements, allowing anyone to use the crossing.

Environmental: Kimley-Horn prepared a Noise Study Report pursuant to the California Traffic Noise Analysis Protocol and the Technical Noise Supplement. Using the Federal Highway Administration Traffic Noise Model version 2.5, we evaluated traffic noise at the adjacent University of California, San Diego (UCSD) dormitories and athletic fields and at outdoor use areas associated with the Scripps Memorial Hospital La Jolla and other office buildings.
Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS): The project’s design elements required extensive coordination with Caltrans for widening of the interstate to 10 lanes, which included HOV and auxiliary lanes. The team prepared the full design for all of the electrical and communication components, including relocating the fiber-optic communication backbone that runs parallel to I-5 on the east side of the interstate.
Driving Water Infrastructure Improvements: Kimley-Horn provided pipeline design services as part of this improvement project, including two 24-inch diameter steel potable water lines and one 24-inch recycled water line designed to run through the new Genesee bridge. The pipelines were constructed through the new Genesee Bridge over I-5, requiring careful coordination with the City of San Diego Public Utilities Department, Caltrans, UCSD, and Scripps Hospital to make sure that service continued throughout construction.