LOS ANGELES – Months earlier than anticipated, Caltrans has reopened both lanes of traffic during daytime travel hours along the 3.6-mile stretch of Topanga Canyon Boulevard/State Route 27 (SR-27) between Pacific Coast Highway (PCH), south of Grand View Drive. This marks a major milestone in recovery efforts since the 2025 Palisades Fire and rainstorms that washed out a portion of SR-27.
Traffic is flowing without restrictions between 5 a.m. and 8 p.m. daily. Recovery work remains, but crews plan to complete it during off-peak hours.
The following traffic restrictions are in place:
- One-lane traffic control with a pilot car between postmiles 2.5 to 2.8 (where Caltrans crews are currently working) between 8 p.m. and midnight, when crews are working
- Continue the full closure from PCH to Grand View Drive between midnight and 5 a.m. for pipe installation (the full closure has been in place since the highway reopened in May 2025)
“This milestone highlights the strength of our partnerships and the proactive efforts of our crews to rebuild after the devastating Palisades Fire,” said California Transportation Secretary Toks Omishakin. “Under Governor Gavin Newsom’s leadership, restoring daytime access through this stretch of Topanga Canyon Boulevard, months ahead of schedule, brings us even closer to a full reopening of this vital highway.”
“The reopening is a major step forward for residents and small businesses in this community,” said Caltrans Director Dina El-Tawansy. “Dedicated Caltrans engineers overcame significant challenges to implement the work needed to provide greater access. We thank everyone for their patience, and Caltrans will continue to work diligently to complete the project as soon as possible.”
One-lane traffic control for Southern California Edison to underground cables continues from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. weekdays on SR-27 from Old Topanga Canyon Road to just south of Happy Trail.
Additionally, telecommunications companies will be undergrounding cables and requiring one-lane traffic control from 8 p.m. to midnight on SR-27 from PCH to postmile 1.8, starting in early March. Caltrans will share specific schedules when finalized. There is still vital work to complete fortifying the highway from future storms and fire damage, including:
- Finalizing retaining walls at postmiles 2.5 and 2.7 to reinforce slope stability
- Installing the remaining 51 linear feet of an 84-inch reinforced concrete pipe, which is replacing a 36-inch drainage pipe and will increase water flow capacity during storm events
Caltrans engineers originally estimated lifting traffic restrictions in summer 2026. However, staff from nearly every division dedicated countless hours to this project, including shifting gears after encountering harder-than-expected bedrock earlier in the drilling process underneath the highway. They were able to design an alternative plan for the postmile 2.5 retaining wall without compromising the integrity and durability of the highway.
Additionally, the installation of the reinforced concrete pipe will lessen traffic disruptions but may require a few 55-hour extended weekend closures. Caltrans will share specific schedules and give at least two weeks’ notice for any extended weekend closures needed.
This section of highway suffered major damage from the Palisades Fire and subsequent winter storms. Caltrans’ subsequent SR-27 emergency repairs project is estimated to cost at least $38.5 million and includes:
- Removing more than 35,000 cubic tons of mud and debris
- Replacing damaged roadside signs
- Repairing eroded embankment/slopes at multiple locations
- Installing temporary K-rail to supplement areas with burned guardrail
- Installing debris flow barriers, a type of netting to catch mud and debris flow before it hits the highway and drainage culverts, at multiple locations
- Building two retaining walls to increase slope stability
- Installing an 84-inch reinforced concrete pipe underneath the highway for increased water flow capacity during rainstorms
Structural work on this project is expected to be completed in summer 2026.
Additional details on the project can be found on the Caltrans SR-27 Emergency Project website. Weekly road closures are posted at the Palisades Fire Emergency Repairs website.
For more information about California infrastructure projects, visit build.ca.gov.