Sports Arena/West Mission Bay Drive may get revamped Traffic accidents and careless drivers have prompted state traffic engineers to propose the installation of better traffic signals and a median on southbound West Mission Bay Drive as it crosses under Interstate 8 and becomes Sports Arena Boulevard. Traffic officials hope to start the $1.2 million project in summer 2010. Drivers exiting the I-8 westbound on Mission Bay Drive/Sports Arena Boulevard often dangerously cross over to the far side of the street to get back on the eastbound I-8. This puts pedestrians, cyclists and other drivers in danger, said Richard Estrada, a California Department of Transportation engineer.  “[Caltrans] staff have actually seen people cross lanes,” he said. “[Drivers] will get into that free-flow lane and cut across, driving over the delineators (small plastic poles).” City of San Diego staff, however, is concerned the change could back up traffic along West Mission Bay Drive as motorists try to leave Pacific Beach and the Mission Bay area. Traffic currently flows freely on the West Mission Bay Drive lane leading to the eastbound I-8. City traffic engineer Julio Fuentes said agencies will meet in the coming months “for them [Caltrans] to consider our comments.” According to a preliminary Caltrans staff report, the area has been the scene of 105 collisions between April 2000 and March 2006.