The installation of a permanent, steel bridge rail, in the planning stages for years, will take several months and cause traffic delays.

Construction to replace a guard rail on westbound Torrey Pines Road between Coast Walk and Prospect Place is delayed to summer 2026.

The project, which will remove a concrete K-rail and install 350 feet of bridge rails, has been planned for years and was slated for first quarter 2026 construction but recent geotechnical evaluations have resulted in the delay, Erik Gantzel said at the Nov 18 meeting of the La Jolla Traffic & Transportation Board.

“We’re looking at a significant amount of time before construction starts,” Ganztel, who serves as T&T chair, said.

The ST-75 Bridge Rail to be installed is made of galvanized steel and is used on freeways but has recently been approved by Caltrans for road use. The rail will be 42 inches high with a bike rail along the top.

The K-rail was put in place after  a car drove off Torrey Pines Road into a private yard on Coast Walk in 2018; plans for something better have been considered since 2021.

T&T has received an updated traffic control plan, Gantzel said, adding he will review the plan. 

“The anticipated duration of the construction is still in the range of several months,” he said.

It is anticipated the work will cause traffic delays on Torrey Pines Road, similar to a temporary lane closure in August that led to undesirable driving conditions.