November 7

Hazard Center Drive is a three-block four-lane roadway that parallels the San Diego River on the south and Friars Road on the north and stops at Mission Center Road on the east and 100 yards or so from the 163 bridges over 163 west.

Hazard traffic onto Frazee, January, 2017

In the mid-90s, the only homes built on Hazard Center Drive were about 100 Union Square condominiums. Upon purchasing a condo, owners were required to sign a statement acknowledging the fact that they were aware that at some point Hazard Center Drive would be continued west to the Fashion Valley mall.

Hazard dead-end, looking west, March, 2018

Now, some twenty years later, the construction has started.The builder has now reduced the west-bound lanes from two lanes to one and has started the dig out and paving of two concrete-type single lane passages under the 163 bridges.

March, 2018 progress

The upcoming problem is that during the commute, traffic trying to escape the Friars Road backup is already cutting through to Hazard Center Drive via Frazee Road to Mission Center, therefore,creating a huge daily backup. It's thought this reduction will only create a massive backup in the area.

November 6, looking east

The question is, how is this connecting road expansion going to make the commute in Mission Valley any better? The completion of the roadway is expected to be in early 2019.