The new Valley Center Road bridge over the San Luis Rey is now complete and open to traffic. It replaces one built in 1939. A maintenance review found the foundations of the old bridge were susceptible to scour – the wearing away of sediment such as sand and rocks from around bridge abutments from fast moving water. The foundations for the new bridge piers were constructed nearly 25’ below the existing river bottom and the ends of the bridge are protected by large amounts of rock.
 The new bridge is essentially the same length as the original bridge at 500 feet but is nearly double the width at fifty three and a half feet. It has two 12-foot lanes, eight-foot shoulders, and sidewalks five and a half feet wide on both sides. The new shoulder areas provide for vehicle recovery and emergency use that was not available on the old bridge. The sidewalks are also separated from traffic lanes with concrete barriers and provide pedestrians easy access across the San Luis Rey River.
The bridge was constructed in two stages to maintain traffic flow across the river at all times. Construction was challenging due the very deep foundations and the presence of a significant amount of ground water as well as surface flows during both winter seasons.
The Department of Public Works worked closely with the Rincon Band of Luiseno Indians through the planning and construction phases.
The new bridge across the San Luis Rey River in Valley Center is a major improvement in the infrastructure of San Diego and will help ensure traffic safety for County residents and visitors. It’s another case of DPW – Working For You.
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