PCH to be close intermittently Friday, Saturday
Caltrans announced in a press release Friday afternoon that Pacific Coast Highway will be closed intermittently between Topanga Canyon Boulevard and Coastline Drive today and Saturday, March 25 and 26, between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. The action was taken because falling rocks and debris caused by excavation on the slope above the highway could cause accidents or injury to travelers.
This follows an accident that took place Friday morning on PCH just east of Las Flores Canyon Road when a driver swerved to avoid a falling rock the size of a “soccer ball,” according to witnesses. The SUV the man was driving ended crashing into the side of the cliff, with the front end facing up. The man and his passenger, a woman, were uninjured.
Caltrans stated in the release that the closure will cause delays of 10 minutes maximum. One lane remains open in each direction in the slide area. A third lane was opened March 18 providing a second southbound lane between the hours of 10 p.m. to 12 p.m. and switching to northbound between the hours of 12 p.m. to 10 p.m.
Intermittent daytime lane closures will be ongoing on PCH between Kanan Dume Road and Paradise Cove Road for the next two months from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. for construction of the Zumirez Realignment Project. At least one lane in each direction will be open at all times.
PCH is also down to one lane in each direction between Trancas Canyon and Lunita Road. Both southbound lanes are open.
One lane of traffic is open for through traffic on Encinal Canyon Road as repairs continue, and
Caltrans will extend the hours Topanga Canyon Boulevard is open to motorists on Sunday, March 27, from 6 a.m. until 11 p.m. The regular schedule will go back into effect Monday, March 28. Regular traffic access is limited daily, from 6 a.m. to 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. to 11 p.m., to allow storm damage repair. Currently, there is one operational lane shared by two-way traffic, which is managed by a flagging operation. Motorists can expect delays. These restrictions are expected to remain in effect until May.
Malibu Canyon Road, Kanan Dume Road and Decker Canyon Road are open.