Freeway and Highway Problems in San Diego

Caltrans says its online Customer Service Request form should not be used to report any kind of highway emergency, and that highway emergencies should be reported to 911 or the California Highway Patrol (CHP) immediately. The CHP patrols the freeways; the City of San Diego and the San Diego Police Department do not maintain them.

• Call 911 for debris, a ladder, a tire or furniture in a traffic lane, a crash, a disabled vehicle blocking traffic, an animal on the road, a downed sign or anything else that puts drivers at risk right now. Pull off safely before calling, or have a passenger call.
• CHP non-emergency: 858-637-3800. The City's Get It Done freeway FAQ lists this number, and the CHP lists it for its Border Communications Center, which handles 911 and 24-hour non-emergency calls for the San Diego region.
• CHP San Diego Area office: 858-293-6000, Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., as listed on the CHP San Diego Area page. For speeding and street racing on freeways, see our speeding and street racing guide.

Caltrans owns and maintains the State Highway System. In the San Diego area that includes the interstates (I-5, I-8, I-15, I-805) and state routes such as SR-52, SR-54, SR-56, SR-94, SR-125, SR-163 and SR-905, along with their on-ramps, off-ramps, connectors, shoulders, sound walls, fences and landscaped slopes. Caltrans District 11 covers San Diego and Imperial Counties.

• Not every state route is a freeway. Some state highways run as ordinary-looking roads with signals and driveways. A state route shield on the street signs is a good hint.
• Use the Caltrans map as a check. On the Customer Service Request form, Caltrans says the map pin turns green only when it is placed on a valid state highway location. If it will not turn green, the spot may not be Caltrans property, and Caltrans says to check with your city or county. It also warns that the map can be inaccurate at the edges of state property, such as where a ramp meets a local street.
• Surface streets under or over a freeway. The street passing under an overpass, and the intersection at the end of a ramp, may belong to the City even though the bridge or ramp is state property. When in doubt, describe the spot clearly and let the agencies sort out ownership.

The City of San Diego does not maintain freeways or ramps; its Get It Done FAQ sends freeway maintenance issues to Caltrans. Problems on City streets are covered in our guides to potholes, street lights and traffic signals and signs.

• What the form asks for. As of November 5, 2026: a situation type, a map pin, direction of travel, nearest cross street, how you were traveling, when you noticed it, a short description of the problem and of the location (up to 500 characters each), and an email address. Name and phone number are optional, but Caltrans says they help crews if more information is needed.
• Be specific. Name the route and direction (for example, northbound I-805), the nearest exit or cross street, which lane or shoulder, and a landmark such as an overpass, sign or call box.
• By phone. The Caltrans Contact Us page lists the District 11 office in San Diego at 619-688-6699 and [email protected].

These are the situation types on the Caltrans form, as of November 5, 2026, that match the most common problems.

• Potholes and rough pavement. Roadway - Pothole, or Roadway - Rough Pavement. Damaged guardrail has its own type, Roadway - Guardrail Missing or Damaged, as do faded stripes and missing reflective lane markers. A deep pothole in a travel lane that is causing flat tires right now is a hazard: call 911.
• Litter, debris and dumping. Litter - Trash and Debris for roadside trash, and Illegal Dumping for dumped loads on state property. Signs, banners and posters on state property are Litter - Unauthorized Signs, Banners or Posters. Dumping on City streets is covered in our illegal dumping guide.
• Graffiti on sound walls, overpasses and highway signs. Graffiti. A sound wall that is falling or damaged is Soundwall - Down or Damaged. For graffiti on City property and private buildings, see our graffiti guide.
• Lights, signals and signs. Traffic Lighting for freeway and ramp lights, Traffic Signal for a signal at a ramp that Caltrans runs, and Signs - Missing, Broken, Blocked or Down. Lights on City streets are in our street lights guide.
• Fences. Fencing - Missing or Damaged, for right-of-way fences along freeways and ramps.
• Landscaping, weeds and drainage. Landscaping - Weeds, Trees, Brush, Landscaping - Broken Sprinkler, and Roadway - Flooding, Drainage, or Erosion.
• Dead animals. Deceased Animal. If the animal is in a traffic lane, call 911. Dead animals on City streets are covered in our dead and stray animals guide.

Caltrans does not publish a set repair time on the form. If a problem is still there after a reasonable wait, submit a new request and mention the earlier one.

If you believe a state highway condition, such as a freeway pothole, damaged your car or injured you, the claim goes to the State, not the City. Caltrans says the government claims process must be followed to preserve the right to sue Caltrans for many types of claims, and that it is an early resolution process, not an insurance or reimbursement program.

• $12,500 or less: file with Caltrans. As of November 5, 2026, Caltrans says claims for death, personal injury or damage to personal property of $12,500 or less that you believe Caltrans caused can be filed directly with Caltrans, with no filing fee, on form DOT LD-0274 (PDF, Rev 08/2024). Send the signed original with your supporting documents to the District Claims Office for the county where it happened. San Diego County is District 11; the District 11 Claims Office in San Diego is at 619-688-2531, and its mailing address is on the Submit Damage Claim page and the form. The form asks for photos, a police report if there is one, and two written estimates or one paid receipt.
• Over $12,500: Government Claims Program. Larger claims, and claims against other state agencies, go to the Department of General Services' Government Claims Program. DGS offers an online form and a paper form, with a $25 filing fee or a fee waiver request. Questions: toll free 800-955-0045 or [email protected].
• Six-month deadline. The Caltrans claim form says a claim for death, personal injury, or injury to personal property must be presented within six months of the incident, and other claims within one year, unless an exception applies (Government Code sections 911.2 and 935.7). The DGS Government Claims Program FAQ says that if you miss the six-month deadline you may ask for leave to present a late claim within one year of the incident, with an explanation.

Damage from a City street goes to the City instead; see our guide to filing a damage claim against the City of San Diego.

Work zones and lane closures on City streets are covered in our road work guide.