The emergency repair of a storm-damaged ditch along Pacific Coast Highway west of Trancas has ballooned into a $5 million culvert replacement project that is still a month away from completion.
Sheriff’s deputies warn that Sunday’s Malibu Nautica Triathalon will mean the highway will be closed much of the morning between Trancas Canyon and Lunita roads, while bike racers traverse the two narrow traffic lanes through the site.
“We plan to temporarily close the road to traffic,” said Sgt. Philip Brooks at the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department. “It’s just too narrow this year with the construction.”
Officials at Caltrans said they were surprised that what began as a simple flood repair and debris removal contract became an extensive reconstruction project.
“This started out as a little debris removal contract after the storms last winter,” said resident engineer Eloy Castillo. “Then we discovered the big depression on the roadway, and the scope entirely changed.”
A 16-inch-diameter water main had to be supported by steel girders before the 20-foot-deep storm drain could be replaced, Castillo said.
To top everything off, Caltrans discovered that the site has archeological remains and needed to be excavated carefully. The state Department of Fish and Game has also weighed in with streambed reclamation requests.
Castillo said Caltrans hopes to have all four lanes of the highway paved and restriped before the end of October.