Topanga Canyon Boulevard/State Route 27 Palisades Fire Emergency Repairs

STATUS

Crews began recovery and repair work on Monday, January 13 on Topanga Canyon Boulevard, between PCH and Circle Trail. Working with Cal Fire, West Region Maintenance crews have cleared brush from Topanga Canyon and delivered 27 loads of dirt to California State Parks for erosion control.

Debris removal from the February slides was completed, with all 33,000 cubic yards of mud and debris cleared. To date, all dirt has tested clean. This material has been hauled out to farms in Somis and is also being used to replenish state park land impacted by the fire and storms. The storm that came in on April 26 brought down more debris, but that has been cleared.

Caltrans and its partners are working to restore Topanga Canyon Boulevard by building retaining walls in three locations (postmiles 2.363, 2.52 and 2.712) and rebuilding the shoulder and lane where the road was washed away. Caltrans is also installing debris flow barriers and larger culverts and clearing debris from nine locations where slides occurred. These improvements will help minimize the impacts of future debris/mudflows on SR-27 due to the extensive burn scars in the canyon.

Southern California Edison continues work undergrounding utility lines (watch: https://youtu.be/-f9eNIdb3QI). The Los Angeles County Department of Public Works is rerouting a water main connection that was exposed when the road washed away.

Topanga Canyon Boulevard reopened for public use for a 3.6-mile stretch between Pacific Coast Highway and Grand View Drive on May 23. Public access is limited to between 5:00 a.m. and 11:59 p.m. (hours subject to change), with traffic controls. The roadway will be closed from 12:00 a.m. to 5:00 a.m., between Pacific Coast Highway and Grand View Drive, for continuing repair work.

The following modifications and safety measures are in place:

• 25-mph speed limit between Grand View Drive and PCH, continuing into the closure limits on PCH between Chautauqua Boulevard in Los Angeles and Carbon Beach Terrace in Malibu
• One-way directional flagging (or one-way traffic control signals) at various points due to ongoing work between postmile 2.3 and 2.7
• No parking, no stopping and no pedestrians allowed in the work zone

If you have any questions, please email Topanga@dot.ca.gov

BENEFITS

Caltrans is taking the following measures to restore the highway and prevent any long-term damage to the highway:

• Removing burned debris;
• Restoring and repairing retaining walls;
• Installing K-rail;
• Replacing damaged guardrail;
• Rebuilding damaged shoulder and lane;
• Clearing drainage lines;
• Restoring slope,

• Applying erosion control at affected slopes.

Photos of Fire Burn Area