California Highways (www.cahighways.org): Route 76

In June 2019, the CTC authorized relinquishment of right of way in the city of Oceanside (City) along Route 76 at Foussat Road (11-SD-76-PM 2.6), consisting of a reconstructed city road. The City by letter dated March 14, 2019, agreed to waive the 90-day notice requirement and accept title upon relinquishment by the State.
(Source: June 2019 CTC Minutes, Agenda Item 2.3c)

Melrose Drive (Oceanside) to I-15 Widening (~ SD R7.756 to ~ SD R17.158)

The SAFETEA-LU act, enacted in August 2005 as the reauthorization of TEA-21, provided the following expenditures on or near this route:

High Priority Project #2719: Route 76 Road Widening, Melrose Drive to I-15. $4,000,000.

Rte 76 Improvements There are plans to widen this route. The goal is to widen Route 76 from two to four lanes between Melrose Drive in Oceanside (~ SD R7.756) and I-15 (~ SD R17.158). The goal is to complete the 2½-mile stretch between Melrose and East Vista Way in 2007. This length of time is due to bridge work and a number of culverts that will be constructed for stormwater runoff and to serve as wildlife corridors between the river and nearby upland areas. The widening from East Vista Way to South Mission Road in Bonsall, which connects that community with Fallbrook, won't begin before 2008, due to the length of time it takes to determine the route and acquire property.

According to observers, construction has started on Route 76 upgrade from a two lane road to an expressway between Melrose Drive in Oceanside (where the current expressway to I-5 ends) to South Mission Road in Bonsall. Pictures are available here.

In March 2009, the CTC approved for future consideration of funding a project to widen Route 76 from two to four lanes and construct roadway improvements from Melrose Drive and South Mission Road near the community of Bonsall. The project includes local Transnet and federal Demonstration funds. The total estimated cost is $230,908,000, capital and support. The Department and San Diego Association of Governments may consider pursuing federal stimulus dollars in lieu of local or other federal funds. Construction is estimated to begin in Fiscal Year 2009-10.

[Bonsall] In January 2010, Caltrans broke ground on a $182 million expansion that will add one lane in each direction, from Melrose Drive in Oceanside to South Mission Road in Bonsall. About 30,000 vehicles travel the five-mile stretch daily — a figure that’s expected to double by 2030 due to development. More than $75 million of the project cost will be covered by the federal government’s economic stimulus program, with an additional $17 million in federal contributions and $14 million in state transportation funds. About $76 million will come from TransNet, a half-cent, voter-approved sales tax in San Diego County. Completion is expected by the end of 2012.

As for the stretch between between South Mission and I-15—that 5 1/2-mile stretch could possibly see work started by 2009, with completion in 2011. There are four alternatives being considered in the EIR:

Existing Alternative: This alternative includes widening the roadway from a two-lane highway to a four-lane facility with improvements to the Route 15 interchange on and off ramps. The project would limit access to Route 76 from businesses and home driveways to frontage roads with signalized intersections. Additional improvements under this alternative would include soft-bottom culverts over creeks to allow drainage and to support wildlife movements between the San Luis Rey River and upland habitats.
Southern Alternative: This alternative includes constructing a four-lane facility south of the San Luis Rey River with two bridge structures. Additional improvements under this alternative would include soft-bottom culverts over creeks to allow drainage and to support wildlife movements between the San Luis Rey River and upland habitats.
No-Build Alternative. This alternative does not address the existing and future traffic demands.

There was originally a Split-Facility Alignment, which would build three westbound lanes along the existing alignment and three eastbound lanes on the proposed Southern Alignment, but that seems to have gone away. In Decmeber 2008, the CTC had no comments on the notice of preparation of the EIR for this project. The proposed project would construct roadway improvements consisting of lane additions and interchange ramp improvements along portions of Route 76 and Route 15 through the unincorporated communities of Bonsall and Fallbrook in San Diego County. Upon completion of the Environmental Impact Report (EIR), a proposed route adoption will be presented to the Commission. The project is fully funded and utilizes local tax ordinance, TransNet and TransNet Extension funding through the San Diego Association of Governments (SANDAG). Construction is expected to begin in Fiscal Year 2012.

South Mission to 15 Project In April 2012, the CTC approved for future consideration of funding a project in San Diego County that will widen and realign Route 76 from two to four lanes, from South Mission Road in Bonsall to just east of the I-15 interchange, including interchange improvements. The project is fully funded with federal and local funds. The total estimated project cost is $201,000,000 for capital and support. Construction is estimated to begin in Fiscal Year 2012-13. Resources that may be impacted by the project include; land use, growth, noise, biological, socio-economics, farmlands, cultural, paleontological, and wetlands. Potential impacts associated with the project that cannot be mitigated to below significance through proposed mitigation measures include land use, community character and cohesion, growth, and visual. As a result, a Final Environmental Impact Report including a Statement of Overriding Considerations was prepared for the project.

In December 2014, the CTC allocated $300K in Federal earmarked funds for the Route 76 East Roadway widening. This is a project in San Diego County near Bonsal and Fallbrook, on Route 15 from 0.3 mile South of to 0.3 mile North of Route 76/I-15 separation and on Route 76 from 0.4 mile West of South Mission Road to 0.5 mile East of Route 76/I-15 separation. The goal of the project is to construct a 4-lane highway by widening to 4-lanes, including curve realignment, installation of median barrier, and upgraded shoulder widths.

Rte 76 East Seg In January 2016, it was reported that more work has been completed on Route 76 between Oceanside and I-15. The West Segment, between I-5 and Melrose Drive, was completed in 1999. The Middle Segment, between Melrose Drive and South Mission Road, was completed at the end of 2012. The East Segment is located between South Mission Road and I-15 and is divided into two phases. East Segment Phase 1 construction on the Route 76/I-15 interchange began in October 2012 and was completed in summer 2013. East Segment Phase 2 construction to widen and realign the roadway began in November 2014 and is anticipated to take about three years, finishing in fall 2017. The intended facility, upon build-out, will be (at minimum) a four-lane expressway with median barrier, bicycling improvements, and environmental improvements associated with the highway's proximity to the San Luis Rey River. Construction at this point continues on through 2016 to improve what is a very busy corridor, especially for traffic leading from Riverside County in the morning to Oceanside in the morning and the reverse in the evening. There are no plans to modify Route 76 into a full freeway at this time. The segment of Route 76 east of I-15 is not slated for the same level of improvements to be seen on the portion between I-5 and I-15.
(Source: Andy3175 @ AAroads)

In July 2016, it was reported that the San Diego County Board of Supervisors voted in June 2016 to approve the sale of 6.94 acres of county-owned land and the granting of 2.98 acres of easements in exchange for $143,599 in cash and three Caltrans remnant parcels valued at $155,800. The Caltrans remnant parcels total 112,415 square feet, or 2.58 acres. This sale further enables the widening of Route 76 from two lanes to four between South Mission Road and I-15. Because the future San Luis Rey River Park will involve the acquisition of land only from willing sellers, the exact boundaries have not yet been determined. Caltrans will receive 6.09 acres of land which was acquired for potential river park use and is currently managed by the county’s Department of Parks and Recreation, but those portions are not necessary to the planned river park. The other 0.85 acres to be acquired by Caltrans is managed by the county’s Department of Public Works (DPW) but has no current or planned future use by the county because it is on the south side of State Route 76 and is separated from DPW’s road station by a road on the north side of the state highway. Caltrans also required 0.81 acres of permanent easement consisting of 0.67 acres of access easement and 0.14 acres of drainage easement along with 2.17 acres of temporary construction easement.
(Source: Fallbrook and Bonsall Villiage News, 7/1/2016)

In May 2017, it was reported that motorists now can drive from I-5 in Oceanside all the way to I-15 in Fallbrook along a four-lane split highway with a lifesaving barrier in the middle. The roughly $400 million state Route 76 improvement project has transformed the highway from a once curvy two-lane road — clogged by rush-hour traffic and occasionally scarred by head-on collisions — to a wider, straighter thoroughfare. In mid-May 2017, state, federal and regional transportation officials celebrated the completion of the last leg of the project with a dedication ceremony just north of the highway at Pala Road. Crews recently wrapped up the final five-mile stretch — from South Mission Road in Fallbrook to I-15 — months ahead of schedule at a cost of $201 million. That phase began in 2013 with the complete reconfiguration of the I-15 interchange. All work that remains is extensive landscaping of the highway using drought-tolerant plants. The entire state Route 76 corridor project was divided into three segments: west, middle and east. The western segment through Oceanside was completed in 1999. The second phase, stretching from Melrose Drive to South Mission Road, was finished in 2012 at a cost of $171 million. The project also included the expansion of the Park & Ride at the intersection of the highway and I-15. The parking lot has doubled in size and now features charging stations for electric vehicles. Designed into the project were a number of environmental features including bioswales, which are landscape elements that remove pollution from surface runoff via a drainage course with gently sloped sides that are filled with vegetation, compost or riprap. Wildlife under crossings and directional fencing have been built into the highway at various key points along the highway to allow wildlife safe passage between areas of natural habitat. Throughout the project, Caltrans has been working closely with the county, which has been buying land and slowly developing a park along the banks of nearby San Luis Rey River. The regional park one day will be 1,700 acres and 9 miles long, beginning in Oceanside and ending near I-15, The dream is to offer active and passive recreational opportunities along 20 miles of trails, while preserving the river corridor. The reconfiguration of the highway required the acquisition of adjoining parcels of land along the route, nearly 1,600 acres in all, before construction began. Some of the land will either become part of the regional park or will buffer it.
(Source: San Diego U-T, 5/15/2017)

In June 2017, it was reported that Route 76 is now two lanes in each direction between I-5 and I-15. A grand opening ceremony to celebrate the completion of the final phase between South Mission Road and I-15 was held May 16 near the intersection of the old alignment, which is now an access road off the freeway, with Sage Road. Because the highway was already open to traffic, the ribbon-cutting ceremony was replaced by the planting of drought-tolerant shrubs which will be used to landscape the area. In the November 1987 election, the county’s voters approved the half-cent TransNet sales tax for transportation, and the widening of Route 76 between I-5 and Melrose Drive in Oceanside utilized TransNet revenue. In November 2004, the voters approved a 40-year extension of the TransNet sales tax through 2048. The portion of the widened Route 76 between I-5 and Melrose Drive in Oceanside was completed in 1999. The widening between Melrose Drive and South Mission Road was completed in 2012. Improvements on the interchange at Route 76 and I-15 opened to traffic in August 2013. The project widened Route 76 from 30 feet on average to 44 feet of paved surface which provided two travel lanes, 12 feet wide, along with inside and outside shoulder lanes, 10 feet wide. The road also includes turn lanes, acceleration and deceleration lanes and barriers. Bicycle lanes are part of the widened road. The work also includes improvements to the park-and-ride center on the northwest corner of Route 76 and Old Highway 395. In addition to enlarging the park-and-ride center, the improvements also include flattening the grade, adding truck parking and a bus terminal, lighting and charging stations for electric vehicles. Work began on cutting the slope in 2015 and blasting to dissolve rock occurred during 2016. The paving, striping and charging station are the remaining tasks for the park-and-ride improvements, and the new park-and-ride center is expected to open to the public in mid-June. The new Route 76 also includes bioswales and wildlife undercrossings. A traffic signal was added at the intersection of Route 76 and Via Monserate, and all driveways and street intersections accessible from Route 76 were renovated. The $201.7 million project between South Mission Road and I-15 utilized $90.9 million of federal funding, $60.6 million of revenue from TransNet, $27.4 million of state Proposition 1B funding and $23.0 million of developer and other local funding. The portion between Melrose Drive and South Mission Road had a $151.8 million cost, which was covered by $91.5 million of federal funding including $76.6 million from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act stimulus program, $60.0 million of TransNet funding and $346,000 of local contributions.
(Source: Valley News, 6/8/2017)

In October 2011, it was reported that Caltrans has purchased the historical Rancho Lilac in Valley Center for $16.5 million and plans to keep the 902-acre site undeveloped (accessible from SD 19.335). The purchase of the land, which includes Keys Creek, valleys and rolling hills, was part of an agreement to mitigate environmental losses from widening Route 76 between I-5 and I-15. The property includes a cluster of buildings with a rich history. Just how those buildings will be preserved and whether they will be open to the public has not been decided as of the time of purchase. The $16.5 million purchase is the largest so far made through Caltrans' Environmental Mitigation Program, which set aside $850 million to preserve and restore habitat near major roads. Mitigation efforts along Route 76 have included fencing and culverts that have reduced the number of animals killed on the road. The new purchase will provide a habitat for the endangered least Bell's vireo and coastal California gnatcatcher. The endangered Stephen's kangaroo rat also has been spotted on the property.
(Source: North County Times, 10/29/2011)

In December 2020, it was reported that the San Diego Association of Governments will issue a new request for proposals for the management of the Rancho Lilac land in Valley Center. Although SANDAG staff recommended approval of the proposal from the San Diego Habitat Conservancy, the SANDAG board voted 14-5 to seek a new request for proposals. The representatives from Carlsbad, Escondido, Imperial Beach, National City and San Diego voted against the motion. In addition to the Rancho Lilac property, Caltrans acquired land by Highway 76 near North River Road, near Olive Hill Road, between Camino Del Rey and South Mission and near Gird Road. The TransNet half-cent sales tax includes an Environmental Mitigation Program to acquire, restore, and manage property acquired for the mitigation of transportation impacts. The acquisition of the Rancho Lilac property had several environmental benefits: a buffer to maintain water quality in Keys Creek, habitat for the Multiple Species Conservation Program in North County, providing wildlife linkage, facilitating wildlife movement and permanently preserving 46 cultural resources. Caltrans acquired the Rancho Lilac property in 2011 using Environmental Mitigation Program funding. Caltrans intended to transfer the property to a qualified land manager for perpetual management after the highway work was completed. In 2016, SANDAG solicited proposals for the management of Rancho Lilac. Three proposals were received, and the proposal from the San Diego Habitat Conservancy had the highest ranking during the evaluations. SANDAG and SDHC negotiated an endowment amount of $6,994,129. The state required property improvements such as lead abatement, hazardous materials cleanup, basic repair of some historic buildings and weed abatement before the transfer. Concerns on the management contract renewal focused on the lack of guaranteed trail access. The county’s general plan has a trails element which includes future north-south and east-west trails within the property. Community meetings were held Oct. 15 and Oct. 20, and the two meetings combined had more than 100 participants.
(Source: Village News, 12/3/2020)

In October 2018, it was reported that ENR had awarded the California Best Projects 2018 Highway/Bridge award of merit to the Route 76 East Segment. The 5.2-mile improvement project on Route 76 included widening a two-lane road to a divided four-lane highway and updating bridges over the San Luis Rey River. The project team worked around Native American protected sites in a sensitive river floodplain. “The team was six months early in the delivery despite working in a pretty highly environmental area,” a judge said. The project restored 1,600 acres of habitat, and the team scheduled vegetation clearing and pile-driving around habitat breeding seasons. The project also built a bridge over culverts supplying water to the San Diego area. To protect the culverts, girders for the new bridge were transferred in mid-air using two cranes, each positioned at different bridge abutments. Lead Design Firm/Structural/MEP. Engineer: Caltrans District 11. General Contractor: Ames Construction. Civil Engineer: Dokken Engineering. Precast Girders: Coreslab.
(Source: ENR, 10/2/2018)

In October 2015, the CTC authorized relinquishment of right of way in the city of Oceanside (11-SD-76-R7.7/R8.1), consisting of a nonmotorized transportation facility. The City, by controlled access highway agreement dated January 5, 1994, and by resolution dated August 20, 2014, agreed to waive the 90-day notice requirement and accept title upon relinquishment by the State.

In October 2014, the CTC authorized relinquishment of right of way in the city of Oceanside along Route 76 on Jeffries Ranch Road (~ SD 8.062 to SD 8.723), consisting of a reconstructed city street. The City, by controlled access highway agreement dated January 5, 1994 and by resolution dated August 20, 2014, agreed to waive the 90-day notice requirement and accept title upon relinquishment by the State.

Freeway Recisssion - E of Bonsall (~ SD R9.0 to SD R17.3)

Freeway Recession In March 2016, the CTC rescinded the freeway declaration for Route 76 in the county of San Diego, Post Mile R9.0 to R17.3 in accordance with the recommendation of the Chief Engineer. The background to the resolution noted that Route 76 is currently designated as a freeway from the easterly limits of the City of Oceanside to I-15, but operates as a conventional highway. There are no local or regional planning studies that contemplate Route 76 as anything but a conventional highway through the portion currently designated as a freeway. The proposal was to rescind the freeway declaration for Route 76, between the City of Oceanside’s easterly limits and I-15, leaving this section as a conventional highway. It was noted that no Right of Way acquisitions were made in order to accommodate a freeway facility on Route 76, and that rescinding the freeway declaration would allow the Department to reconfigure the right of way needed in and around the I-15/Route 76 interchange as the right of way was reserved for a freeway to freeway interchange. Once the Route 76 proposed rescission is approved, new right of way lines would be established for a highway to freeway interchange and excess lands can be disposed, reducing inventory, liability, and maintenance efforts required.

In October 2016, the CTC rescinded the freeway declaration for Route 76 in the County of San Diego, Post Mile (PM) R9.0 to R17.3 in accordance with the recommendation of the Chief Engineer. Route 76 was originally identified as a future freeway it was done in part to serve planned future growth in rural areas of eastern San Diego County. Since the late 1990’s the region has been moving away from new sprawling suburban developments and toward a smart growth (sustainable communities) model of development. That has resulted in a shift from new developments in the rural areas to infill projects in the urban coastal and non-coastal areas. This strategy is also consistent with the State’s greenhouse gas (GHG) strategies to reduce vehicle miles traveled. The conventional highway use of Route 76 is locally accepted and is in conformance with local and regional plans including the San Diego Associated Government’s (SANDAG’s) 2050 Regional Transportation Plan, the City of Oceanside’s General Plan Circulation Element, the Bonsall Community Plan Circulation Element Road Network, the Fallbrook Mobility Element Network and the County of San Diego General Plan Mobility Element. The County of San Diego supports the Department’s recommendation to downgrade Route 76 from a freeway to a conventional highway, on the condition that Route 76 continues to be retained as part of the State Highway System and continues to be maintained by the Department. In addition, the Department’s Transportation Concept Report (TCR) for Route 76, which includes an assessment of both current and future operating conditions, and improvements that will be needed to meet identified operational goals on the route, identifies the post 25-year Route 76 facility as a conventional highway.

In October 2014, the CTC authorized relinquishment of right of way in the county of San Diego along Route 76 between East Vista Way (~ SD R9.46) and South Mission Road (~ SD 12.438), consisting of superseded highway right of way and collateral facilities. The County, by letter dated August 1, 2014, agreed to waive the 90-day notice requirement and accept title upon relinquishment by the State.

Route 76/I-15 Interchange (SD R17.3)

In April 2012, the CTC authorized funding for the Route 76/I-15 Interchange Improvement. Near Bonsall and Fallbrook on Route 15 from 0.4 mile south to 0.8 mile north of Route 76/I-15 separation and on Route 76 from 0.5 mile west to 0.5 mile east of Route 76/I-15 separation. Modify interchange and widen bridge over I-5 to six lanes. This funding is contingent on the passage of the 2012 budget act.

Expansion East of I-15

There is also work to expand the route east of I-15. In April 2008, blasting commenced related to improvements to Route 76 east of I-15 to straighten and widen Route 76 to 4 lanes with a center turn lane for about 2 miles (~ SD R17.474 to SD R19.474). Later work will continue over to Valley Center Road that will make Route 76 two lanes with a center turn lane and full shoulders (to SD 32.841). The work is funded by impact fees assesed as part of expansions of 2 casinos, a quarry and a landfill to be built nearby.

A short, privately funded improvement is nearly complete on Route 76, for about 2 miles east of I-15 towards Pala. The new road is a striped 4 lane with left turn pockets where needed using modern geometry, there will be freeway style lighting at the intersections that have yet to be activated. Route 76 was a very narrow 2 lane road, that has had explosive traffic growth due to four major Indian casinos within 7 to 15 miles east of the interstate, three of which now have 10-15 floor hotel towers as part of the resorts. This project was totally funded by a soon to open quarry and the two casinos closest to the interstate, it eliminates some 90° bends that occur immediately east or the interstate. This project was a phase one, the next phase will extend the work to east of Couser Canyon road and will elimanate a sharp curve there by building the raod on a sweeping new alignment. Both phases were designed by Caltrans.

In April 2012, the CTC authorized vacation of right of way (prescriptive easement) in the county of San Diego along Route 76 between Pankey Road (~ 076 SD 17.866) and 0.8 mile easterly thereof. In September 2009, a portion of Route 76 was realigned by a private developer as part of the Palomar Aggregates Quarry. The quarry developer was required to improve this portion of the two lane conventional highway per developer agreement. As a result of that realignment a segment of the old road was superseded and is no longer needed for State highway purposes.

Valley Center Roundabout (~ 076 SD 32.869)

In July 2016, it was reported that the intersection of Valley Center Road and Route 76 near Rincon will get be converted into a roundabout in 2017. The total cost of the project will be $17.5 million, which includes approximately $9 million in construction capital and $3.5 million in right-of-way capital. The goal of the project is to reduce the number and severity of accidents at the intersection and realign the curves just east of the intersection. Design of the preferred alternative is tentatively scheduled for completion in 2016, with construction to be done in 2017. Some locals are unsure if the accident rate at the intersection justifies the roundabout, feeling that Caltrans is on a quest to install roundabouts.
(Source: Valley Roadrunner, 6/30/2016)

In August 2016, it was reported that the CTC approved for future consideration of funding a project on Route 76 (11-SD-76, PM 32.6/33.3) in San Diego County that will construct a roundabout, curve realignment, and other improvements at and near the intersection of Route 76 and Valley Center Road (SD County Sign Route S4). The project is programmed in the 2014 State Highway Operation and Protection Program. The total programmed amount is $18,058,000 for capital and support. Construction is estimated to begin in Fiscal Year 2016-17. The scope, as described for the preferred alternative, is consistent with the project scope programmed by the Commission in the 2014 State Highway Operation and Protection Program.

In January 2018, it was reported that construction of a roundabout at the intersection of Route 76 and Valley Center Road is on schedule. Designed to curb serious accidents at the dangerous intersection, the roundabout and associated road realignment are expected to be completed by July 2018. The estimated $15.5 million project will significantly slow traffic at the intersection, which for decades has been controlled by a single stop sign at Valley Center Road. The intersection is known as the "stage coach stop" and it has been the site of numerous fatal and other accidents over the decades.
(Source: San Diego U-T, 1/17/2018)