The highway will close at 9 p.m. Tuesday and crews will assess reopening as soon as it is safe to do so
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 three hours early at 9 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 10, in anticipation of predicted rainstorms and possibility of mud and debris flows.
Caltrans crews will monitor and assess road conditions to reopen the highway as soon as it is safe to do so. Given the forecast, crews are expecting to reopen Wednesday unless the rainstorms bring significant impacts.
The National Weather Service is predicting 0.5-1 inch of rain overnight, with peak rain rates of 0.2-0.4 inches per hour. 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 between Sunset Boulevard and Carbon Beach Terrace.
Motorists can check current traffic conditions on the Caltrans Quickmap. Caltrans District 7 will share updates via news release and on Instagram, X and Facebook.
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.