Residents of Santee and East County commuters will have the opportunity to review a proposed improvement project for a six-mile segment of state Route 52 at a meeting hosted by the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) on Thursday. The project focuses on enhancements between Interstate 15 and state Route 125, including modifications to the Mast Boulevard Interchange. Caltrans is collaborating with the San Diego Association of Governments and the City of Santee to address longstanding traffic congestion along this route.
For years, local residents have expressed frustration with traffic bottlenecks on SR-52. In response, a coalition of East County leaders and environmental organizations formed over seven years ago to tackle these issues. The current proposal includes adding managed lanes, addressing traffic bottlenecks, and relocating a bike path to improve overall traffic flow.
The project’s scope consists of seven main proposals aimed at enhancing the highway’s efficiency:
1. Convert the westbound #1 lane to a managed lane from Mast Boulevard to Santo Road.
2. Change the existing two-way bike path on the north side of the freeway to a 4.7-mile-long westbound auxiliary/truck climbing lane from Mast Boulevard to Santo Road.
3. Relocate the bike path to the south side of the freeway.
4. Widen the westbound on-ramp from Mast Boulevard to SR-52 to create a two-lane ramp.
5. Restripe westbound SR-52 from two lanes to three lanes from SR-125 to Mast Boulevard.
6. Restripe eastbound SR-52 from two lanes to three lanes from Mast Boulevard to east of the San Diego River Bridge, eliminating the lane drop at Mast Boulevard while maintaining three eastbound through lanes to SR-125.
Dan Howe, a Santee resident who commutes to Old Town several times a week, has experienced the traffic challenges firsthand. He often opts for alternate routes to avoid congestion on SR-52. Howe expressed support for the proposed restriping to add an additional lane in both directions, stating it would likely be a “huge help” in alleviating traffic issues.
He also backs the conversion of the north-side bike path into a truck climbing lane, noting that truck traffic often exacerbates congestion. However, Howe is opposed to the managed lane proposal from Mast Boulevard to Santo Road, arguing that it could worsen the situation for commuters.
“I know that would be unpopular for the obvious reasons. Traffic is bad during commute times, and most people are not carpooling,” Howe stated. “Restricting who can use it is just probably going to make the situation worse.”
Managed lanes typically serve high-occupancy vehicles (HOV) or carpooling. Howe emphasized the importance of incorporating public feedback into the SR-52 improvement process, highlighting that many residents feel their voices are not being heard.
The public input phase is crucial and is part of the environmental review process that began in summer 2025, with completion targeted for August 2028. Design work is set to commence in 2028, with construction anticipated to wrap up in summer 2034.
Stephen Welborn, communications manager for Caltrans, stated that public comments on the project will be accepted throughout the environmental phase. “Proposals are not set in stone at all; we are asking them to comment on those specific proposals, and if there are additional proposals from the public, we will take those as well,” Welborn noted.
The meeting is scheduled to begin at 18:00 at Santee City Hall. Members of the public can submit comments in writing, via email, or through a link available on the Caltrans website until December 29. This outreach reflects Caltrans’ commitment to ensuring community involvement in shaping the future of state Route 52.
