Upas Street Pipeline Replacement

Ardurra delivered design services for the City of San Diego's Upas Street Pipeline Replacement Project, extending from Lindbergh Field eastward along Upas Street through challenging urban environments, including I-5 and State Route 163 crossings, sensitive habitat areas bordering Balboa Park, residential neighborhoods, and utility-congested corridors to 30th Street. The complex alignment traversed high-traffic areas, including Park Boulevard and 5th Avenue, requiring extensive coordination and specialized construction methods.

The project demanded extensive multi-agency coordination, securing permits, reviews, and approvals from Caltrans, MTDB, North County Transit District, San Diego County Regional Airport Authority, and Unified Port District. Additional coordination encompassed 10 different City Departments, plus comprehensive environmental documentation and community outreach throughout design and construction phases.

Key Project Components:

• Designed 14,980 LF of 8-12-inch PVC distribution main with 8,160 LF of 24-inch cement mortar lined steel pipe featuring impressed current cathodic protection

• Implemented 1,640 LF of 30-inch HDPE transmission main via horizontal directional drilling with 210 LF of 18-inch HDPE slip-lining installation

• Engineered four pressure-reducing stations, including three replacements and one new facility, with flow metering and SCADA telemetry

• Coordinated extensive multi-agency approvals from Caltrans, MTDB, transit districts, airport authority, and port district

• Managed 10 City Department coordination with comprehensive environmental documentation and community outreach programs

• Achieved significant cost savings through pipeline replacement method evaluation, confirming the smaller diameter in-place replacement feasibility

• Completed 4.9 miles of trench paving and street resurfacing, restoring infrastructure across sensitive urban environments

The pipeline replacement provides San Diego with enhanced water distribution infrastructure while demonstrating effective coordination across complex urban environments. Strategic analysis of replacement methods and comprehensive stakeholder engagement enabled cost-effective infrastructure improvements while preserving community access and environmental resources.