Visial of route through El Monte Valley

The “Interstate 8 Alternative” Route

Chocolate Canyon Option

The route through El Monte Valley is known as the “Interstate 8 Alternative” and is the “Chocolate Canyon Option” of this route.  The title of the route may explain why some media reported that the powerlink was approved to “go down Interstate 8.”  (Could this misleading name be misleading on purpose? – that’s another topic)

The route is described in the environmental impact report which follows the map from the south of El Capitan, in front of the dam, across the face of El Cajoin mountain, on the north side of El Monte Valley, over to Setlzer Park, across Wildcat Canyon, then up to San Vicente Reservoir:

The alternative would be underground for 8.8 miles until MP I8-79.6, at which point the line would transition to overhead using two transition structures. At MP I8-79.6, this alternative would diverge from Interstate 8 heading north for one mile, passing through private land and San Diego County land for 0.1 miles. At MP I8-80.7, the route would turn northwest and pass within one mile of El Capitan Reservoir. At MP I8-82, it would cross roads identified by the CNF as “Forest Route 15S32” and then “Forest Route 13S10”, passing through one mile of
Cleveland National Forest, 0.3 miles of City of San Diego land, and one mile of BLM land.
At MP I8-82.7 the route would turn west-northwest passing through private land, and at MP I8-84.1 it would turn west-southwest and pass through one mile of BLM land before turning west at MP I8-86.6 through private land. At MP I8-86.8 the route would cross Wildcat Canyon Road, and at MP I8-87.6 it would turn north-northwest through private land. At MP I8-89 it would turn west-northwest, crossing Moreno Avenue within one half mile and passing through 1.4 miles of City of San Diego land, 0.2 miles of San Diego County Water Authority land, and 0.3 miles of San Diego County land. At MP I8-89.9 it would turn north-northwest, passing by San Vicente Reservoir for approximately two miles. At MP I8-91.3 the route would cross SR67, turning northwest at MP I8-91.6 to parallel SR67 on private land until joining the Proposed Project at its MP 131, just west of SR67.

Here is another link from the project site:   Route exhibit

Please email me to obtain an interactive of the tower sites info@saveelmontevalley.com

We have also learned that the project “right of way” for this lines is 300 feet wide, and the EIR decribes that this route will allow for future expansion expected within the next 10 years.

Note that we have relied upon information in the EIR for this site, which given the fact that SDG&E was fined for misleading the CPUC about the route, we can not be assured that the information we have is accurate or complete.  You are encouraged to follow the links and read the project documents.

What will it look like?

The bad news is that this photo simulation is only based on 150 foot towers, and the towers are actually 160 to 180 feet.  Furthermore, these are just the first towers.  There are expansion plans.

Simulation of towers through the route that takes it directly in front of El Cajon Mountain