The highway will close at 10 p.m. Sunday and is expected to remain closed through predicted rainstorms
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 at 10 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 15, in anticipation of rainstorms and potential for debris flows.
Caltrans crews will reassess road conditions daily to reopen the highway as soon as it is safe to do so. Given the current forecast, motorists should expect the route to remain closed at least through the Tuesday morning commute.
Caltrans District 7 will share updates as soon as they are available via news release and on its social media pages, Instagram, X and Facebook. Motorists can check current traffic conditions on the Caltrans Quickmap.
The National Weather Service is predicting 2-4 inches of rain between Sunday through Tuesday evening. The time of most concern for flooding is Sunday night through Monday night, though the current forecast shows rain intensity that may cause flash flooding through Wednesday morning.
This decision is 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. NWS expects potential for widespread flooding, minor debris flows and rockslides/mudslides.
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 storms 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 between Sunset Boulevard and Carbon Beach Terrace.
This stretch of SR-27 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.