DEL MAR, Calif. — The San Diego Association of Governments is suspending weekend rail service between Solana Beach and downtown San Diego through Monday morning to continue bluff stabilization work in Del Mar.
WHAT TO EXPECT OVER THE WEEKEND: Rail service suspended in North County to allow for bluff repairs over the weekend
This project will also impact the Los Angeles-San Diego-San Luis Obispo rail corridor, which serves the North County Transit District, Metrolink, Amtrak commuter rail companies (the Pacific Surfliner) and the freight line BNSF.
Instead, a “bus bridge” will take passengers to the Santa Fe Depot if heading south, and to the Oceanside Transit Center if traveling north.
SANDAG and NCTD crews will install roughly 80 feet of concrete along the rail corridor from Sea Grove Park to 15th Street, which will act similarly to a retaining wall to protect against bluff collapse and washout, which occurred during a period of heavy rain last month. Previous projects have resulted in the installation of more than 200 concrete support pillars along a nearly two-mile stretch to stabilize the cliffs.
CONTINUING COVERAGE: Crews repair bluff erosion near train tracks in Del Mar
SANDAG expects to begin a $5.8 million stabilization project early next year, which will include the installation of support piles and the replacement and rehabilitation of drainage along the bluffs. The regional planning agency plans to utilize federal, state and local funding sources to complete the project. Additionally, SANDAG and the NCTD aim to secure another $100 million to fund future bluff stabilization efforts. Information regarding ongoing efforts to stabilize the bluffs can be found here.
Full service is expected to be restored by next week, but riders should expect 15-minute delays on Monday.
