Asphalt Overlay Goal Achieved

It was a busy spring for our staff and contractors, who were completing some significant roadway improvements and reaching our fiscal year asphalt overlay goal. Between July 2024 and June 2025, we surpassed 75 miles of completed asphalt overlay, including some major roadways like College Avenue near Interstate 8, University Avenue in City Heights and La Media Road in Otay Mesa. These projects are unique and have various elements, but they aim to tackle the same goal: to improve San Diego’s infrastructure conditions.

Here’s a look at some other street resurfacing in communities across the city.

Rancho Peñasquitos • Bay Terraces • Mountain View • Encanto • Skyline • Oak Park • Paradise Hills • Barrio Logan • City Heights

Award-Winning Projects and Staff

We were recently recognized by six distinguished organizations for our work in the community, receiving nearly two dozen prestigious awards. Team members have been honored by the American Public Works Association (APWA), the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE), the California Association of Public Information Officials (CAPIO), the California Preservation Foundation (CPF), the American Institute of Architects (AIA) and the American Planning Association (APA).

The following projects throughout the City of San Diego have been honored for their excellence, innovation and/or contributions to the community.

Project: Balboa Park Botanical Building Improvements Project

Awards: Outstanding Historical Renovation Project (ASCE)

Outstanding Restoration Project (CPF)

Historical Restoration/Preservation Award (APWA)

American Institute of Architects Project Award (AIA)

Project: Torrey Pines Fire Station

Awards: Outstanding Architectural Engineering Project (ASCE)

Structure of the Year (APWA)

Project: Santa Clara Playground & Comfort Station Improvements

Award: Outstanding Parks & Recreation Project (ASCE)

Project: Pacific Highlands Ranch Branch Library

Awards: Outstanding Structural Engineering Project (ASCE)

Project of the Year – Structures (APWA)

Project: West Mission Bay Drive Bridge Project

Award: Outstanding Bridge Project (ASCE)

Project: South Bay Stormwater Diversion

Award: Project of the Year Award in the Utilities Category (APWA)

Project: Metropolitan Biosolids Center Stormwater Diversion

Award: Project of the Year Award in the Sustainable/Green Category

(APWA)

Project: OB Pier Renewal Project

Awards: Excellence in Public Information and Communication (CAPIO)

American Institute of Architects Project Award (AIA)

Project: 5th Avenue Promenade Feasibility Study

Award: Urban Design Excellence Award (APA)

Project: MLK Community Park Mountain View Park

Award: Honor Award, Parks Category (APWA)

Project: AC Water Group 1038

Award: Honor Award, Utilities Category (APWA)

Project: De Anza Northeast Parking Lot Improvements

Award: Honor Award, Parks Category (APWA)

Project: Clay Avenue Mini Park

Award: Project of the Year (APWA)

Project: Cañon Street Pocket Park

Award: Project of the Year (APWA)

Project: Riviera Del Sol Neighborhood Park

Award: Honor Award (APWA)

Project: Bermuda Avenue Coastal Access Replacement

Award: Outstanding Community Improvement Project (APWA)

Project: La Media Road Improvements

Award: Project of the Year Award for Transportation Category (APWA)

Two of E&CP’s assistant directors, Myrna Dayton and Luis Schaar, also received prestigious awards recognizing their commitment to public service and excellence in civil engineering. Dayton received the Outstanding Service in a Public Agency Award from the APWA San Diego/Imperial Counties Chapter. The award celebrates public agency professionals who inspire excellence and dedication through sustained career achievements. Schaar received the Outstanding Civil Engineer in the Public Sector Award from the ASCE. This award honors civil engineers in public service who demonstrate exceptional engineering achievements while making meaningful contributions to the field. We appreciate their decades of dedication to the City, its residents and our department!

National Public Works Week

In May, we recognized the hard work of our teams out in the field keeping our City intact during National Public Works Week (NPWW)! This annual event celebrates the thousands of dedicated public works employees who plan, build, manage and operate the critical infrastructure, systems and services that improve the lives of all San Diegans.

NPWW started in 1960 as a public education campaign by the American Public Works Association to raise awareness of the importance of public works in community life. It takes place annually during the third week of May. This year’s theme, “People, Purpose, Presence,” highlights three cornerstone ideals that motivate public works professionals to serve their communities every day. With or without fanfare, these teams are always working in the background to improve our communities.

Thank you to all our public works employees!

Women in Construction Week

As part of Women in Construction (WIC) Week, March 2-8, we celebrated the hardworking women in the traditionally male-dominated construction industry who help bring our communities to life with new and restored infrastructure.

WIC Week, which began in 1998 by the National Association of Women in Construction, celebrates and promotes the vital role of women in the construction industry. It takes place annually during the first full week of March, which is Women’s History Month.



In what has become an annual tradition, Mayor Todd Gloria met with members of our Women in Field Construction (WiFC) Committee and toured the site of the Maple Canyon Restoration project. During the tour, Mayor Gloria expressed gratitude for the WiFC members’ dedication to building a better San Diego.

WiFC was formed in 2022 to give women working in the construction field a voice and support system. The employee-led group currently has more than 60 members from several City departments, mainly the Engineering and Capital Projects and Development Services departments. WiFC hosts professional development and networking events to encourage collaboration, education and community building.

Project Updates

Tecolote Canyon Trunk Sewer

The Tecolote Canyon Trunk Sewer Improvement project is rehabilitating and replacing 4.7 miles of trunk sewer pipe and providing additional capacity for the sewer system. The work, which also aims to prevent ruptures in the sewer line, includes installing a water main, constructing stream crossings and improving access paths while also supporting revegetation in the area.

The project team has worked diligently to minimize disruption to the surrounding area, which includes the Tecolote Canyon Nature Center and Tecolote Canyon Golf Course. They have also been committed to honoring the community's wishes when possible, such as preserving two valued sycamore trees by adjusting the project design.

Transparency has also been an integral part of the project, as project team members demonstrated at a site walk earlier this spring. While leading a group of stakeholders through the area, including members of the community as well as representatives from two Council Offices and the Mayor’s Office, the team answered questions and discussed the upcoming construction.

The project will be completed in phases to minimize its impact on the community and visitors. In addition to the enhanced sewer line, the work will contribute several vital improvements to the area, such as permanent stream crossings to allow for better access within the canyon. Construction is projected to be completed in 2027.

Clairemont Sidewalk Repairs

Crews recently completed sidewalk repairs in Clairemont, improving travel for all users.

Pure Water Clarifier Domes

Don’t worry, UFOs aren’t here. This dome is a secondary clarifier, a key part of the Pure Water purification process.

Mercado/Del Mar Heights Signal & North Torrey Pines Beach Ramp

Two major improvements are complete in the Torrey Pines area – a new traffic signal at the intersection of Mercado Drive and Del Mar Heights Road and a new access ramp from the Torrey Pines State Beach parking lot down to the shore.

Annual Scholarship Fundraiser

Our 24th Annual Scholarship Fundraiser Golf Tournament was a hole in one! We teamed up with the American Council of Engineering Companies San Diego Chapter for our most successful year yet, hosting a fun event that drew a high turnout and tremendous support for scholarships.

The tournament, which sold out again this year and had a long waitlist of interested participants, included a full draw of 144 golfers and a team of dedicated volunteers. Golfers enjoyed a sunny day on the links with delicious food, terrific prizes and exciting competitions, all while supporting scholarships for local students. The tournament brought in more than $26,000, including about $2,700 in day-of sales, which will support 10 deserving students — six undergraduates and four high schoolers — pursuing engineering or land surveying careers.

The tournament was a wonderful opportunity for our staff to connect with each other and members of the community while supporting tomorrow’s professionals.

Park Progress

John F. Kennedy Park

A renovated John F. Kennedy Park in the Lincoln Park Neighborhood is open to the community! The much-loved park space had gone nearly 50 years without upgrades. Thanks to a $4.9 million investment, the park has new play structures, a restroom facility, a picnic shelter, security lighting and more.

San Ysidro Activity Center

Facility improvements are underway at Colonel Irving Salomon San Ysidro Community Activity Center. The activity center and parking lot are undergoing a $5.8 million makeover to provide better access and new features, like a playground, multi-purpose sports court, new walkways and drought-tolerant landscaping. Work is expected to be completed next year.

Wangenheim Middle and Walker Elementary School Joint Use Facility

Mira Mesa, say hello to your community upgrades! This is the recently renovated Wangenheim Middle and Walker Elementary School Joint Use Facility. This park space was expanded with new amenities and is available for everyone to enjoy.

Mountain View Sports Court

Check out this upgraded complex of sports courts at Neal Petties Mountain View Community Park! This project converted two tennis courts into futsal courts with new surfacing and equipment. It also included upgrading nearby basketball courts and installing new lighting and fencing components.

For 38 years, Alejandro “Alex” Garcia gave his life to the City of San Diego. He started as a Student Engineer in 1988. Then came the long climb — Junior, Assistant, Associate and Senior Engineer. He became an Assistant Deputy Director, then a Deputy Director. He led men and women across many divisions. In the end, it was Construction Management and Field Engineering.

Alex strongly believed in the value of hard work. He made this clear by setting standards of excellence for projects and being uncompromising in adhering to them. His name is attached to more City projects than can be listed or even counted. Roads, pipes, bridges — Alex worked on all of them. His efforts and commitment to quality come through in every project, no matter how large or small.

He believed in people and their potential and reinforced that belief regularly. “People are the most important thing” was a phrase he often used when speaking to others about his staff and their projects. He was a generous teacher and a good listener. Many in the City today carry his words in their thoughts and actions. He believed in perseverance and encouraged staff to continually learn from mistakes. Knowing the citizens of San Diego were his ultimate boss, he was fond of saying, “Construction doesn’t sleep.”

There were hard times — market crashes, budget cuts and a pandemic that froze the world — but Alex stayed steady. He ran an entire division from behind a computer screen. He kept his people and the projects going. His calm demeanor and ability to make all feel heard and seen allowed many projects to be completed and the City to move forward during a difficult time.

People who worked with Alex admired his professionalism and technical ability. They say he knew the systems better than anyone, especially water and sewer. He could see a whole project from every side, and when problems occurred, he wasn’t afraid to lean in, roll up his sleeves and resolve them. He also didn’t mind the sometimes less-than-glamorous work, as every part of a project was important to him. As one City employee who worked with Alex said, “He could make even the boring stuff look cool.” It was because he cared and was never interested in the limelight. He freely gave away his success to others.

He also had a life outside the City. He treasured time with his family and encouraged others to do the same. He enjoyed a healthy lifestyle and could regularly be found lifting weights at 24-Hour Fitness. On Sundays, he often crossed the border to help children in orphanages who had nothing.

We congratulate Alex on his distinguished City career and now retirement, and we wish him the best in his next adventure. His mark is in the concrete and copper of the projects on which he worked, and in the hearts and minds of the men and women he taught in the city he loved.

And Alex: Collins still wants that avocado ice cream.

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