Beginning just after midnight, a full rail closure will be in effect this weekend to accommodate work along the passenger and freight rail line between Oceanside and San Diego.
The closure will take place from just after midnight on Saturday through early morning on Monday.
Full rail closures are routinely scheduled to advance rail construction and ensure worker safety. During the upcoming closure, construction activities are planned for the El Portal Undercrossing project in Encinitas and the Mid-Coast Trolley project in San Diego.
This closure will affect four rail services operating on the San Diego segment of the Los Angeles - San Diego - San Luis Obispo Rail Corridor: North County Transit District, Metrolink, Amtrak and the freight carrier BNSF.
Regular passenger rail service is scheduled to resume by 5 a.m. on Monday. Riders are encouraged to plan for increased travel time as trains could be delayed.
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The following work will be done during the closure:
— In Encinitas, construction activities are planned for the El Portal Undercrossing project. Near El Portal Street, crews will install foundations for a future rail bridge, which includes drilling, placing support columns, and pouring concrete. Crews also will relocate a Verizon fiber optic cable to ensure construction does not cause conflict with the utility. The El Portal Undercrossing project will create a rail bridge and pedestrian undercrossing in Encinitas, safely connecting businesses, residents, and schools between Vulcan Avenue to N. Coast Highway 101. Project completion is anticipated by spring 2022.
— In San Diego, ongoing construction activities are planned throughout the Mid-Coast corridor. San Diego Gas & Electric crews will perform work on the existing electrical distribution system near the traction power substation located at La Jolla Colony Drive. Project crews will perform underground electrical work, energize the substation and remove existing conductors from the trolley tracks. The Mid-Coast Trolley project will extend UC San Diego Blue Line trolley service from the Santa Fe Depot in Downtown San Diego north to the University area and is anticipated to be complete by late 2021.
During construction, nearby residents and businesses can expect intermittent noise and lights.
