Crossing into the finish line 🌉

West Mission Bay Drive bridge replacement project nearly complete

The project is on track to be completed by early 2023. | Photo via City of San Diego

Four years deep into construction, the city’s infrastructure project to replace the West Mission Bay Drive Bridge is nearly complete — with goals to have traffic flowing by early 2023.

The $150 million plan has overhauled the previous four-lane bridge built back in the 1950s — when San Diego’s traffic demands were very different and fewer people were traveling into the area.

In its place are now two separate, parallel bridge structures with three lanes in each direction designed to ease both northbound + southbound congestion and improve transportation across the San Diego River. Let’s see where the project stands. 🏗️

📍 Where is it?

If you’ve driven on Interstate 8 and taken the West Mission Bay Drive exit since July 2018, you’ve seen the huge construction zone over the old bridge. The site is located on West Mission Bay Drive between I-8 and SeaWorld Drive, ~1.25 miles west of the Interstate 5 + I-8 interchange.

🦺 What’s next?

According to the City of San Diego, the bulk of the work on the southbound bridge is complete. Crews are now finishing construction of the sidewalk, safety barriers, and lighting. The installation of gas, electrical + drainage utilities continues on both sides of the bridge.

🚗 What’s new once it opens?

Traffic will flow via six total lanes.
Safe, multi-use paths alongside both bridges for pedestrians + bicyclists.
Roadway widening improvements along Sports Arena Boulevard, West Mission Bay Drive + the westbound I-8 off-ramp.
The old northbound + southbound bridges will be completely removed.

The project is funded through the Federal Highway Administration’s Highway Bridge Program. Stay up to speed on updates via the city’s website.

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Today

San Diego Padres vs. San Francisco Giants | Wed., Oct. 5 | 1:10 p.m. | Petco Park, 100 Park Blvd, San Diego | $35.00 - $160.00 | Root for the home team now bound for the playoffs. 🧢
OB Farmers Market | Wednesdays | 4-8 p.m. | 4900 block of Newport Avenue, between Bacon + Cable streets | Free | This eclectic, beachside market has been running for 30 years and is a prime spot to grab produce, honey, kombucha, flowers + more. 💐
Fort Vine | Wed., Oct. 5 | 6 p.m. | The Roxy Encinitas, 517 S Coast Hwy 101, Encinitas | Free | The indie + folk act performs. 🎸
Jacob Banks North American Tour | Wed., Oct. 5 | 7 p.m. | House of Blues, 1055 Fifth Avenue, San Diego | $27.50 - $47.50 | The soul singer headlines the downtown venue. 🎤
Lake Street Dive with special guest Devon Gilfillian | Wed., Oct. 5 | 7:30 p.m. | Humphreys Concerts by the Bay, 2241 Shelter Island Drive, San Diego | $65.00 - $365.00 | The alt. rock band plays with special guest Devon Gilfillian. 🎶

Thursday

Walk in ART | Thu., Oct. 6 | 5-10 p.m. | Mural Alley, 445 University Ave., San Diego | Free | The monthly gathering featuring live entertainment, art, food + music. 🎨
Oceanside Sunset Market | Thursdays | 5-9 p.m. | Pier View Way, downtown Oceanside | Free | 200+ vendors span four city blocks for this weekly food + live music gathering in the North County. 🍐
Trey Anastasio Band | Thu., Oct. 6 | 7 p.m. | Cal Coast Credit Union Open Air Theatre, 5500 Canyon Crest Dr., San Diego | $35.00 - $75.00 | The lead guitarist of the rock band Phish brings his side project to the concert venue at SDSU. 🎶

We have a monthly guide filled with events + activities you can plan for in advance. Click the button below to bookmark ideas for upcoming date nights, family outings, and time with friends.

100+ MORE EVENTS

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Weather

77º | Mostly sunny | 0% chance of rain

Sunrise + Sunset

Rise: 6:45 a.m.
Set: 6:28 p.m.

Tide

Low: 1:01 a.m. + 12:58 p.m.
High: 7:44 a.m. + 6:52 p.m.
Water Temperature: 65º

Civic

County + city leaders united to approve a resolution to expand the local affordable housing supply by 10,000 homes using government-owned land by 2030. The plan will streamline permitting to fast-track production + aims to leverage funds to speed up availability, among its four main goals. 🏡

Coming Soon

And then, there was grub. Flor & Seed — the specialty coffee shop on Harney Street in Old Town — will partner with Casa Ocho to start serving breakfast + lunch this month. Expect Mexican street food that hits just right alongside those micro-lot coffee drinks. 🍳

Number

$6.424. That’s the average price of a gallon of self-serve gasoline in San Diego County as of yesterday — the fourth straight day the price at the pump has shattered records. The cost is 52.4 cents higher than a week ago + trumps the previous record of $6.373 set on June 15. ⛽ (City News Service via KPBS)

Sports

More good news for the Padres? Yu know it. Yu Darvish — along with Toronto Blue Jays player Alek Manoah — was named MLB’s Pitchers of the Month. The league says September was “the final bow on top” of a standout season for the right-hander who pitched 44 strikeouts + only eight walks in 39 innings. ⚾ (MLB.com)

Transit

Need a lift? Tomorrow is Free Ride Day, where the San Diego Metropolitan Transit System is offering free rides on the Trolley, COASTER, SPRINTER, and fixed-route buses. This coincides with California’s Clean Air Day, where residents statewide will join events in support of reducing emissions + improving air quality. 🚊

Seasonal

For the past month, a home at Laurel + 30th streets in South Park has been transforming itself into the South Park Horror House. The neighborhood Halloween display is open to visitors looking to get their creepy fix every Friday and Saturday this month from 7-9 p.m. 👻

Cause

Miracle Babies — a local nonprofit dedicated to helping perinatal mothers + their families — will host its fundraising concert, Boogie 4 Babies, on Sat., Oct. 15, at Belly Up in Solana Beach. The event will include a cocktail reception, dinner, live entertainment, dancing, and an auction. 👶

Drink

Psst: Something spooky is brewing at Oculto 477, the speakeasy inside Tahona — the mezcaleria next to El Campo Santo Cemetery in Old Town. The secret spot is mixing up new cocktails with nods to the historic space on which it sits, like the “Garden of Death” + “Fire in the Cemetery.” 🪦

Active

What a climb. San Marcos-based rock climbing facility Mesa Rim North City debuted two years ago during the pandemic and on Sat., Oct. 15, from 9 a.m.-5 p.m., it’ll host its “grandiversary” party. Enjoy free climbing, food, browse health + wellness vendors, and a chance to win prizes. 🧗

Learn

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Taste buds, get thee to North Park 🌮

The return of Taste of North Park

Let there be food. | Photo via North Park Main Street

North Park is known for its sizzling dining scene and this Sat., Oct. 8, local eateries will shine at Taste of North Park. 🍜

The self-guided food tour goes down from 11 a.m.-3 p.m. with samples from 40+ participating restaurants like City Tacos North Park, Encontro, and Pretzels & Pints.

Fifteen breweries and cideries will offer sips for the 21+ crowd, like Bivouac Ciderworks, JuneShine, and Original 40 Brewing Co. Attendees can expect live music + art along the food tour route, too.

Tickets are available — a $60 pass includes food + drink samples, a $45 pass that lets you go just for the grub, or a $25 pass for drinks only. The journey is yours and yours alone. 🎟️

Proceeds benefit the business improvement district, North Park Main Street. The organization champions small businesses + restaurants, preserves the neighborhood’s history, and promotes all things arts and culture in North Park.

THE WRAP

Today’s issue was written by Monica.

Editor’s pick: If you can’t tell already, we love fall in San Diego.

Determined to find a perfect pumpkin, my family + I visited Goff Family Pumpkin Patch at Liberty Station last weekend. It was a gourd-geous evening (I won’t apologize) and the variety was awesome. Don’t miss this patch — along with a few others across the county. 🎃

Missed yesterday’s newsletter? Taking a mental health day in San Diego.

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Editorial: Monica Garske, Michael Beausoleil, Trevor Peters, Britt Thorson, Ashlea Hearn, Emily Shea | Send us a scoop, question, or feedback.

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