Photo by Sarah Shmerling
By SARAH SHMERLING | Editor-in-Chief
A portion of Pacific Coast Highway will be closed beginning Tuesday, February 4, at 3 p.m. ahead of upcoming storms due to possible debris flow, Caltrans reported.
“Out of an abundance of caution, the highway must be closed due to soft soils on both the hill and ocean sides of the road,” Caltrans wrote in a statement. “Mud and debris flows may occur and canyons may overtop, blocking the road or causing further damage.”
The California Department of Transportation is coordinating with Los Angeles County Public Works Department on the closure, which extends from Chautauqua Boulevard in Pacific Palisades to Carbon Beach Terrace in Malibu.
Throughout the closure, the road will be accessible by essential workers, including first responders, recovery agencies and utilities companies. Residents with “appropriate passes” will be able to access the Palisades via Chautauqua, according to Caltrans.
There are two storm systems expected to come through the area. Assessments of the road and the potential to reopen will be made on Friday, February 7.
PCH had reopened on Monday, February 3, to the public for the first time since the Palisades fire began on Tuesday, January 7.
” … It’s necessary to close during these storms due to hills made bare from the recent fires and to protect motorists,” the agency wrote. “Caltrans aims to to allow people to return to their properties to continue their work on slope restoration and property repairs that allows for safe rebuilding.”
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