Del Mar's wooden train trestle gets a modern upgrade
Del Mar's Century-Old Train Bridge Is Finally Getting Replaced
If you have ever waited at the Solana Beach Coaster station watching trains crawl single-file over that rickety old wooden trestle above the San Dieguito River, you can finally exhale. SANDAG's board of directors unanimously approved an advance of up to $62 million in local TransNet funds last week to kick off the long-overdue replacement of the 110-year-old San Dieguito River Railway Bridge in Del Mar.
The wooden trestle, built in 1916, has been limping along for years on frequent and expensive maintenance. The new structure will be a modern concrete bridge elevated above the 100-year floodplain, built to withstand king tides and sea level rise. The total project price tag sits at approximately $350 million and is fully funded through a mix of federal, state, and local money, including the TransNet half-cent sales tax San Diego County voters approved.
Beyond the bridge itself, the project adds about 1.5 miles of double track between Solana Beach and Del Mar, allowing trains to actually pass each other instead of taking turns. A special events platform at the Del Mar Fairgrounds will also give Coaster and Pacific Surfliner riders a direct option for concerts, the fair, and horse racing. Hikers will benefit too, with a new pedestrian undercrossing connecting the Coast to Crest Trail without making anyone dodge a moving train.
Not everyone is cheering. Some Del Mar residents want the whole thing paused until the long-term coastal rail realignment route is decided. SANDAG CEO Mario Orso pushed back, noting that realignment is still 10 to 20 years away. Construction is set to begin in 2027 with completion expected by mid-2031.
Sources: San Diego Union-Tribune | SANDAG | KPBS | The Coast News | NCTD