Caltrans Seeks I-8 Signal Light Down the Road

The California Department of Transportation wants to install a metered light for westbound traffic near Los Coches Road in Lakeside to help ease stop-and-go traffic along Interstate 8.

The proposal is unique because it is the first time such a traffic-control device would be on an interstate freeway itself, instead of on an on-ramp or interchange.

The stop-and-go light is viewed by Caltrans officials as essential for the free flow of traffic along the entire length of I-8. There are no traffic jams at Los Coches Road, but a short delay that far east could help traffic flow clear through Mission Valley, said Jack Grasberger, Caltrans chief deputy district director.

Idea Is in Preliminary Phase

He emphasized that the proposal is in the preliminary stages.

“The project is unfunded and not approved yet,” he said. “It will be at least several years before it could happen. A number of other projects, which are also unfunded, have a higher priority.”

The metered light would operate from 6 to 9 a.m. and be preceded by flashing yellow warning signals. The proposal also includes a car-pool lane, which would be expected to have a shorter delay because fewer cars could use it.

Currently, there are metered ramps at all westbound Interstate 8 on-ramps from Greenfield Drive in El Cajon to Waring Road in San Diego, which help traffic congestion in the Grossmont summit and college area. Adding more on-ramp meters would not be cost-effective because the on-ramps farther east have fewer cars using them. A metered light on the freeway, however, would delay traffic from all East County on-ramps momentarily and ease congestion, Jim Larson, spokesman for Caltrans, said.

“It would be perfectly safe, and we would welcome a lot of public input,” he said. “I think people would be willing to support a demonstration project, an experimental project. If it got to be a problem, we’d just turn off the lights.”