Mission Trails Project

Pipeline and Tunnel
Two existing small pipelines will be replaced with one larger pipeline. Nearly one mile long, the new pipeline will be constructed in a tunnel and will be able to deliver larger quantities of untreated water. A majority of work on the tunnel and new pipeline will take place underground in Mission Trails Regional Park, just east of the community of Tierrasanta in the city of San Diego.

Flow Regulatory Structure II

Conceptual Photo of Flow Regulatory Structure II Access Building

A new underground flow regulatory structure, or covered reservoir, will be constructed to help regulate the water system’s flow of untreated water. It will be capable of holding up to 12 million gallons of untreated water. An above-ground access building will be built to house instrumentation and controls, provide ventilation and security, and allow access for maintenance and repairs. Construction of FRS II is scheduled to begin in mid-2014 and last approximately two years.

Improved Crossing of the San Diego River
A river crossing that allows Water Authority, park ranger, fire, police, and emergency vehicles access to Mission Trails Regional Park was improved as part of this project in September 2009. Concrete slabs with footings, as well as a bollard marking water depth, were added to facilitate crossing for small trucks during low and normal water flows. The new, improved crossing will allow rangers and authorized personnel better access to the park. Pictures of the improved river crossing are included in the Multimedia section, below.

Vent Demolition

Vent Removal - Elliot vents sit on a hillside in MTRP.

When the new flow regulator structure is constructed, the Water Authority will be able to remove the remaining blue vent stacks that are visible on hilltops in the park and replace them with smaller structures.

School Information

Street Smart School Poster

During construction of the pipeline and tunnel portion of the project, Tierrasanta area roads experienced an increase in the number of large construction trucks. The truck activity is expected to be similar when construction of the new flow regulatory structure begins in mid-2014.

Construction requires large trucks to travel near certain Tierrasanta schools to access the western part of the park. The major roads that will be used include Clairemont Mesa Boulevard, Santo Road, Via Valarta, Antigua Boulevard, and Portobelo Drive. Truck drivers will be required to follow appropriate traffic rules, as well as weight and speed limits.

Safety is the Water Authority’s first priority, and we want to help keep kids safe. During construction, please talk to your child about street safety. “Street Smart” posters providing street safety tips will be provided to schools near the access routes. Please look for these posters at your local Tierrasanta school.
 

Trail Closures in the Park
Since the Water Authority currently has no active construction projects in the park, trails are open. When construction of the new flow regulatory structure begins in mid-2014, trail safety will continue to be, as it was during the pipeline tunnel project, an important aspect of the project. Also important is maintaining recreational access to trails at the park during construction, whenever possible. To keep trail users safe, when construction resumes in mid-2014, certain trails in the western portion of the park will be closed. During construction hours, which will be Monday through Saturday, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., closed trails will be off-limits to recreational access. However, trails will be able to be accessed outside of these construction hours and on Sundays.

Any closed trails will be reopened after construction completion. 

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*All dates are approximate and subject to change.

Completed Milestones

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Newsletters:
Summer 2009
Winter 2009
Summer 2008
Fall 2007
Fall 2006
Spring 2005

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Meeting Summaries:
Nov. 1, 2007 - Tierrasanta Elementary School Foundation Meeting Summary
Oct. 10, 2007 - De Portola Middle School PTA Meeting
Sept. 18, 2007 - Tierrasanta Community Council Meeting Summary
Jan. 10, 2007 - Mission Trails Volunteer Trail Guides
Nov. 15, 2006 - Mission Trails Task Force 
Nov. 14, 2006 - Mission Trails Citizens Advisory Committee
Oct. 18, 2006 - Tierrasanta Community Council 

Mission Trails Project Working Group
From May 2005 to March 2006, the Water Authority convened a public working group to gather community input about the project. Working group members included representatives from the Tierrasanta and San Carlos communities, Mission Trails Regional Park, and park user groups. The group met periodically throughout the design, environmental and planning stages, informing the Water Authority of their concerns and providing suggestions for addressing those concerns.

Meeting Summaries:
March 2, 2006
August 4, 2005
June 9, 2005
May 19, 2005
 

Information Updates:
August 2009 - Truck Trip Postcard
March 2009 - Tunneling Begins
February 2009 - Flow Regulatory Structure II Update
December 2008 - Clairemont Mesa Blvd. Closure
October 2008 - Construction News Release
October 2008 - Via Promesa Community Notice
April 29, 2008 
February 20, 2007 

 

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Click here to view the Environmental Impact Report and other environmental documents for this project.

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For more information, please call the 24-hour toll-free project information line at (877) 682-9283, ext. 7004 or email CIPinfo@sdcwa.org. A representative from the project team will return your inquiry within one business day.

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