CalTrans, lies and deceit

A residential community in San Diego's north county has been waiting for construction of a sound wall for many years. California Department of Transportation, more commonly known as CalTrans, made numerous promises to homeowners and their association on construction, timelines, scheduling and much more. The problem, is after so many years, the promises are turning out to be lies and deceit.

Way back in 2010, residents of this community were meeting with CalTrans officials to discuss the widening of Interstate 5 and the impacts it would have on residents. The specter of a new sound wall was raised, with CalTrans then designing a 14 foot high wall that would reduce the noise impact to residents of this community. So, what happened?

For six years, CalTrans has met with the homeowners and strung them along with promises, outright lies that the sound wall would be built before the freeway was widened. And, after 6 years of planning, CalTrans now states the wall is delayed due to some Environmentally Sensitive Area (ESA) that suddenly becomes important. They make it seem like they just found out, but then we find out they actually knew this many years ago but failed to figure this into their concocted stories. CalTrans will not admit who requires the ESA, just that it is according to "standards." The Coastal Commission was mentioned but they seem to have no idea who required this ESA. And CalTrans seems stunned that they have to construct some of the sound wall from outside the residential properties when they actually knew this for what, five or six years?

Now, CalTrans states they will build the freeway regardless of the wall being delayed. Homeowners, who have been impacted by the unmitigated noise levels of an ever growing traffic mass will now be further impacted by construction noise, dust and dirt. CalTrans even had the unmitigated gall to state they might possibly not "open the new lanes to traffic" until the wall was completed. Anyone who would believe that from the get-go is a fool.

But, that's not even the worst of the fabrications that were weaved for homeowners by CalTrans. They are going to do the freeway construction at night! That means no sleep for residents anywhere near the freeway with extreme noise, bright lights and the incessant beep-beep of backup alarms all night long. And CalTrans doesn't give a rats ass about the residents. Not at all.

Some points to know:

CT KNEW that there was an ESA as far back as 2006 but continued to lead us on about the wall construction.

CT KNEW from the beginning that some of the sound wall work would have to be completed from outside the property.

CT KNEW they would build the freeway lanes whether or not the sound wall was erected.

CT has absolutely no regard for the homeowners who will be impacted by the intolerable construction.

CT KNEW they would build at night but lulled us into a false sense of security by stating the wall would be built between 8 am and 5 pm, with us foolishly believing they would actually adhere to the original story of building the wall first.

CT has avoided telling us who actually required the ESA in the first place, rather telling us it was done in accordance with "standards".
Once again, we cannot trust the State of California for anything. They didn't want more lawsuits over the freeway construction so they lied to get people to believe they were actually going to consider residents in their planning. Not so.

So, if CalTrans tells you anything do not believe it. They are likely telling you something just to avoid any slowing down of their steamroller projects. We pay their salaries through taxes yet once again, the taxpayer gets screwed.