Topanga Canyon Boulevard/State Route 27 Emergency Repairs

Last updated: May 12, 2026

STATUS

The 3.6-mile stretch of Topanga Canyon Boulevard/State Route 27 (SR-27) from Pacific Coast Highway to just south of Grand View Drive remains an active work zone. As of March 2, 2026, crews restored daytime travel hours for motorists. On May 12, 2026, crews restored overnight travel hours. It is now open, with traffic restrictions, 24 hours a day.

The following traffic control restrictions are in place for crews to complete recovery work:

15 mph speed limit in Caltrans work zone, postmile 2.5-2.8
One-lane traffic control only where crews are working between PCH and postmile 1.8 for Verizon trenching work, 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. weekdays

Vital recovery work remains and may require additional closures and restrictions. Caltrans will provide advance notice of this work and specific schedules when available.

Motorists should slow down and be alert for workers and stalled traffic, especially around blind s-curves in the canyon, and abide the following restrictions:

15-25 mph speed limit in active work zones
Follow posted signs and traffic controllers
No parking, no stopping and no pedestrians allowed in the work zone

North of Caltrans’ work zone, Southern California Edison is working on trenching equipment. The following traffic control restrictions are in place between Old Topanga Canyon Road and Happy Trail:

One-lane traffic control for SCE electrical work from Highvale Trail to Happy Trail, 9 p.m. to 5 a.m. Sunday through Thursday nights

For weekly road and lane closures, please visit our Palisades Fire Emergency Repairs webpage.

Project map for State Route 27/Topanga Canyon Boulevard

PROJECT UPDATES

The total cost of SR-27 emergency repairs is at least $38.5 million as of January 2026. Structural work and repairs are expected to be completed by summer 2026.

Work that still needs to be completed includes:

Constructing geosynthetic reinforced embankment (GRE) by the retaining wall at postmile 2.7
Installing an 84-inch reinforced concrete pipe, which is replacing a 34-inch pipe for increased capacity and durability during storm events

Completed work includes:

Constructed retaining walls at postmiles 2.5 and 2.7
Removed more than 35,000 cubic tons of mud and debris
Replaced damaged roadside signs
Repaired eroded embankment/slopes at multiple locations
Cleared and cleaned drainage lines and inspecting for damage
Installed temporary K-rail to supplement areas with burned guardrail
Installed debris flow barriers, a type of netting to catch mud and debris flow before it hits the highway and drainage culverts, at multiple locations

BENEFITS

The goal of all work in this emergency project is to restore the highway from previous damage and reinforce it in future storms through slope reinforcement and erosion control measures as well as rebuilding a damaged shoulder and lane that was washed out in February 2025 rainstorms.

Initially, crews worked to remove burned debris, install k-rail and ensure the highway could be restored to all those who rely on this vital connection from PCH into the valley after it was severed in the 2025 Palisades Fire. Crews worked around the clock to clear the highway and reopen it safely to the public.

Now, work has transitioned to long-term impacts to fortify the highway so it can remain a vital connection from PCH to the valley and a main street for the unincorporated Los Angeles community of Topanga that call this area home.

BACKGROUND

This stretch of SR-27 was badly damaged from the Jan. 7, 2025, Palisades Fire and winter storms that closely followed in February and March. It closed to the public in January while crews stabilized the highway, assessed impacts and cleared debris. Limited access to residents and those with passes began in April. It reopened to the public on May 23.

Crews began immediate recovery efforts on Jan. 13 between PCH and Circle Trail. Working with CalFire, West Region Maintenance crews cleared brush from SR-27 and delivered 27 loads of dirt to California State Parks for erosion control.

Crews cleared 33,000 cubic yards of mud and debris from the February mudslides. 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 also been cleared.

Long-term recovery started earnestly in May 2025 and is ongoing.

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 also rerouted a water main connection that was exposed when the road washed away.

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