The following is an update from SDG&E. For questions, visit the SDG&E project website or call their construction project hotline at 1-866-382-0886 during business hours. To receive email updates, sign up for the stakeholder email list at 1-866-382-0886.
Pomerado North Project Update (Oct. 21, 2021)
SDG&E crews have completed the installation of approximately 2.5 miles of new pipe in Pomerado Road along with advanced safety features. This brings us to more than 40 percent completion on the Pomerado North Replacement Project. The length of the total project is approximately six miles between Ted Williams Parkway and Highland Valley Road; two miles in the City of Poway and four miles in Rancho Bernardo.
For the past several months, three construction crews have been working to install new, modern pipe along Pomerado Road in Rancho Bernardo and Poway. Since the start of construction in May, SDG&E crews have trenched a combined total of 2.7 miles along Pomerado Road and installed more than 2.5 miles of new pipe in the trench at the three locations along Pomerado Road between Ted Williams Parkway and Stone Canyon Road.
Last month, a major hurdle for crews was to install a segment of pipe under a golf cart tunnel that goes under Pomerado Road near the Oaks North Community. SDG&E needed to bore under the tunnel by using a sophisticated technique called Horizontal Directional Drilling (HDD). Before the 16-inch pipe could be installed under the substructure, a 24-inch reamer drill was used to enlarge the bore hole under the golf cart tunnel. Once the reaming was complete, the 320-foot section of pipe was pulled into the bore hole five feet beneath the cart tunnel.
To see how this HDD technique was deployed in Rancho Bernardo, watch this video. You can also find the video and additional information at sdge.com/psep under the “Pipeline Safety Enhancement Project” projects folder under the “Pomerado North Replacement Project” project.
Reduced traffic lanes may be necessary along Pomerado Road as SDG&E works from south-to-north:
Location #1: Just north of Twin Peaks Road to Roberto Way (City of Poway)
Time Frame: October 4 – December 6
Normal Workdays: Monday – Friday
Normal Hours*: 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
Location #2: Bernardo Heights Parkway to Stone Canyon Road (City of San Diego)
Time Frame: October 4 – November 23
Normal Workdays: Monday – Friday
Normal Hours*: 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
Location #3: Rancho Bernardo Road to Oaks North Drive (City of San Diego)
Time Frame: September 28 – November 10
Normal Workdays: Monday – Friday
Normal Hours*: 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
*Subject to City approval, hours may be adjusted to facilitate safe and efficient construction and/or address community needs.
Scripps Poway Parkway Project (Update Nov. 15)
On November 1, San Diego Gas and Electric (SDG&E) began construction on the Scripps Poway Parkway Pipeline 1600 Replacement Project. The project takes place in the City of Poway and the City of San Diego communities of Miramar Ranch North and Scripps Ranch, along Scripps Poway Parkway from Pomerado Road, west to Mercy Road at Branicole Lane.
This natural gas pipeline safety project will replace 3.7 miles of 1949-vintage pipe that traverses our communities and is the sole source of natural gas for Poway, as well as most communities east of I-15 from Rainbow to Mission Valley.
Beginning November 1, our crews mobilized, prepared staging yards and organized pipe, materials and equipment. Crews also moved into Scripps Poway Parkway to perform underground utilities verification digs (potholing) in preparation for the installation activities. Trenching to accommodate installation of the new pipeline also began the week of November 1.
Over the next few months, two separate construction crews will be working from east-to-west on the project simultaneously to safely and efficiently complete the project. Construction work zones for pipe installation will typically be approximately 1,000 feet long. On an average day, about 120 feet of pipe will be installed in the trench. Total project completion including pipe installation, testing and street restoration work, is anticipated to be completed by approximately June 2022.
Reduced traffic lanes may be necessary along Scripps Poway Parkway as SDG&E works from east-to-west:
Location #1: Scripps Poway Parkway from Pomerado Road, west to Springbrook Drive
Time Frame: November 1 – December 7, 2021
Normal Workdays: Monday – Friday
Normal Hours*: 8:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.
Location #2: Scripps Poway Parkway between Scripps Creek Drive/Village Ridge Road to just before Spring Canyon Road/Ivy Hill Drive
Time Frame: November 1 – December 2, 2021
Normal Workdays: Monday – Friday
Normal Hours*: 8:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.
*Subject to City approval, hours may be adjusted to facilitate safe and efficient construction and/or address community needs.
Traffic control will be set up and flaggers present during these activities. Two-way traffic will be maintained at all times. Residents and businesses along Pomerado Road will have ingress/egress access during this time.
Please follow the direction of traffic control signs and flaggers as detours are subject to change depending on the location of construction activities. Please plan accordingly and anticipate potential delays.
Noise associated with this work will be minimized to the extent feasible. Every consideration will be made to ensure safety vehicles have immediate access and evacuation routes will remain open to all residents in the event of an emergency.
Current work activities consist of potholing, saw-cutting and excavating the trench to prepare for the pipeline replacement. Once the pipe is installed, welded and x-rayed, a special protective coating will be applied to the pipe that will protect it from corrosion. Once that is complete, additional pipeline safety features will be installed in the trench, including a yellow warning mesh to minimize accidental dig-ins and fiber optic technology that has the capability to detect leaks, intrusion and ground disturbances and alert us immediately. Restoration and repaving activities will finalize the project’s completion.
All activities will be conducted and completed by implementing best construction practices in compliance with City of San Diego’s and City of Poway’s standards and requirements.
SDG&E will continue to work closely with the local community to ensure construction activities are safe and as least disruptive as possible.