The highway will close at 10 p.m. Thursday and is expected to remain closed until conditions improve
LOS ANGELES – Caltrans crews will close a 3.6-mile stretch of Topanga Canyon Boulevard/State Route 27 (SR-27) between Pacific Coast Highway and Grand View Drive two hours early at 10 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 13, in preparation for predicted heavy rainstorms starting overnight Thursday through the weekend.
Caltrans crews will monitor and reassess road conditions throughout Friday and the weekend. Motorists should expect the route to remain closed through the Friday morning commute and potentially through the weekend.
The National Weather Service is predicting the heaviest rainfalls overnight Thursday into early Friday morning and overnight Friday into Saturday, though rainfall is expected through Sunday afternoon. NWS is predicting peak rates of rain 0.25-0.7 inches per hour with storm totals from 2 to 4 inches.
Caltrans made this decision due to expected rainfall totals being above the threshold for potential debris flow, which is 0.25 inches of rain per hour in this area.
The conditions pose hazards for crews and motorists. Travelers should plan for alternate routes and avoid driving in rainstorms, particularly through burn scar areas. Expect delays, drive with caution and always turn on headlights in the rain.
Crews are preparing for the storm by moving equipment, placing k-rail and sandbags and stabilizing current retaining wall and other project work on SR-27 as well as Pacific Coast Highway recovery projects following the Palisades Fire and storms.
Because conditions may change quickly, Caltrans District 7 will share daily updates via news release and on its social media pages, including X (@CaltransDist7), Instagram (@caltransdistrict7) and Facebook (@caltransdistrict7).
Motorists can check current traffic conditions on the Caltrans Quickmap.
This stretch of highway is an active work zone for ongoing recovery efforts from the Palisades Fire and winter storms. It is typically closed to the public from midnight to 5 a.m. daily.