On April 17, UC San Diego announced the full closure of Voigt Drive between Lot P701 and Campus Point Drive, near the UC San Diego Medical Center and Sixth College. The closure began on April 20 and will last until Fall 2021.
Due to the road’s closure, all vehicles, pedestrians, and other forms of micro-mobility transportation heading towards UCSD West Campus have been rerouted to Regents Road, Athena Way, Athena Circle, Medical Center Drive South, and Gilman Drive.
Public access to nearby facilities such as Scripps Health, UCSD Medical Center, the Triton Baseball field, and Lot P701 remains available. Access to the San Diego Gas and Electric (SDG&E) substation and the Preuss School is limited to maintenance and emergencies.
“While the campus is quiet right now, we have an opportunity to rephase some of the work along Voigt Drive without impacting Preuss School or the UCSD campus,” said UCSD Transportation Services Director Josh Kavanagh at an Associated Students (ASUCSD) Senate meeting on April 15.
Kavanagh stated that in preparation for this closure, UCSD Transportation Services began operating the Regents Express shuttles through Medical Center Drive into Price Center Loop during Winter Quarter 2019. The San Diego Metropolitan Transit System (MTS) Bus Routes 201 and 202 will also be rerouted to Athena Circle to accommodate the construction.
The closure is part of the Voigt Drive Improvements Project, a joint effort between San Diego Association of Governments (SANDAG), the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans), and UC San Diego. The project is intended to provide direct access to the future Voigt Drive Trolley station, facilitate transit to nearby facilities such as schools and local medical centers, and make underground utility improvements.
Reconstruction activities during this time will include expansion of Voigt Drive, improvements to the Voigt Bridge and Preuss School parking lot, and the realignment of Voigt Drive and Campus Point Drive. The next phase of the project is expected to begin on June 1, during which the closure of Voigt Drive will impact Campus Point Drive.
“The improvements are anticipated to be complete by the end of 2021, which aligns with the opening of the UC San Diego Blue Line Trolley extension,” said UCSD Associate Director of Communications Leslie Sepuka in an email to The Triton.
According to SANDAG, public works construction activities are considered essential during the COVID-19 pandemic. Active construction projects will proceed as normal while continuing to prioritize the wellbeing of partners, contractors, and communities.