Speed Limit Reduced on SR-67 at Dye Road as Construction Begins

Ramona, CA — Motorists traveling along state Route 67 at Dye and Highland Valley roads in Ramona may have already noticed indications that a $14-million improvement project of the intersection is getting under way.

Construction signs have been in place since the first week of June for the project that includes widening the intersection from two lanes to four.

The speed limit has been reduced from 55 to 45 mph for the safety of commuters and highway workers, according to Cathryne Bruce-Johnson, spokeswoman for Caltrans District 11, which is partnering with the County of San Diego to complete the project.

With the exception of a few weekend and overnight closures — possibly in late June or July — officials plan to keep the intersection open to through traffic for the duration of the project, Bruce-Johnson said in an update about the project.

Most construction activities will take place weekdays from 7 a.m.-3:30 p.m., she said.

Crews continue marking underground utilities which entails a small-scale excavating process called “potholing.” Shallow trenches or holes are dug by hand to locate the utility lines.

This week, crews also began laying fiber roll and gravel bags to keep dirt and sediment out of the storm drain system during construction work. 

The Project

Once completed in fall 2018, the improvements are expected to decrease delays through the intersection by 80 percent. 

Currently, there is substantial back-up during the morning and afternoon commute hours at the key community intersection that also serves back-country travelers heading to San Diego, Santee, El Cajon and other parts of the region. 

The intersection will be reconfigured to accommodate a wider turn radius needed by commercial trucks. Both Dye and Highland Valley roads will be widened approaching the intersection to allow adding a second left-turn lane onto the highway. 

Also being added are bike lanes on the shoulders and an equestrian trail on the northerly side of both roads. 

Other improvements include push-button pedestrian crossings, upgraded drainage and Americans with Disabilities Act-compliant concrete curbs.

Funding for the project is being provided through the State Highway Operation and Protection Program — SHOPP — and San Diego County Transportation Impact Fees.

"Meanwhile, please be 'Work Zone Alert' and watch for highway workers and construction equipment," Bruce-Johnson said. "Barrel barriers and cones are no match for an errant vehicle!"