Editor’s note: As far as we know, Caltrans has no plans to rebuild Pacific Coast Highway into a “state-of-the-art freeway.” Sorry for the mild panic, everybody!
In what Caltrans is calling their “most ambitious project of the past 50 years,” Pacific Coast Highway in Malibu, from Oxnard to Santa Monica, is set to be completely rebuilt into a state-of-the-art freeway over the next two years.
“This totally real project we are definitely doing is going to allow more than three times the amount of vehicle traffic through Malibu each day,” a spokesperson for Caltrans said in a statement. “We are talking about an elevated four-lane freeway complete with HOV lanes, concrete medians, two luxurious rest stops featuring wifi and fast food restaurants—we are paving the way for even more visitors and commuters to enjoy the undisturbed beauty of the Malibu coastline.”
The project, which is expected to cost about $900 million, will be paid for through a countywide bond that was passed in 1982 that sat tangled in litigation for 36 years.
“We don’t know anything about this project and are as shocked and horrified as our citizens,” a city spokesperson said Sunday. “There’s nothing we can do now though!”
Caltrans recommended residents check out photos of the New Jersey Turnpike to “get excited” for the project to begin.
Intermittent lane and full-roadway closures will be expected over the next two years. No details were provided about when closures will be expected.