Beach traffic may be worse than ever this summer, because State Route 27, is not likely to be reopened until fall.
An update was given today to those who live in Topanga and for those who use SR-27 as a way of accessing the San Fernando Valley. The most likely time that the road will be reopened is possibly September.
People who travel that road from the Valley to access the beach will have to take an alternate – on roads that are already bumper to bumper in the summer. Updates can be found on click here.
“The landslide, about 1.8 miles north of PCH, is not as deeply seated as initially thought, which means less material may have to be removed from the top,” according to the report, and the landslide “had not moved in some time and is not expected to move further as long as dry weather continues.”
Caltrans has met with Los Angeles County Public Works and as of April 30, three joint task forces have been started: geology report review, material haul route planning and emergency traffic management groups.
A complete geotechnical report is expected this week, and officials expect that excavations of the dirt and debris on the road, and other activities will increase once they have the report.
The emergency traffic management group is vitally important because of the possibility of fires and with the road closure there is the loss of a major evacuation route. Emergency planning will be orchestrated through the Los Angeles County Fire Department.
Large boulders that are susceptible to falling on the roadway are being removed. A trail to the top of the hill runs zig zag along the hillside. It was felt that the top of the landslide had to be fixed before the debris at the bottom could be addressed.
A loader cut through a toe section of the slide on the roadway to collect dirt and rocks that was used to build a berm. California State Parks requested a berm to protect a creek from falling slide material.
With SR-27 closed, one way to PCH is via Tuna Canyon Road, which is a one-way country road. Motorists cannot access that road from PCH during the evening commute. During the morning commute, Caltrans has adjusted the light for people traveling down to PCH and “The timing is staggered with 30-second green on Tuna Canyon Road and 150 second green on PCH (Route 1) from 7 a.m. to 9 a.m. The green time on Tuna Canyon decreases through the course of the day and into the evening.
