District 7 photo
By District 7 Public Affairs
On June 2, Gov. Gavin Newsom announced that Caltrans had opened State Route 27 three months earlier than anticipated. The Topanga Canyon roadway had been closed from Grand View Drive to Pacific Coast Highway (State Route 1) since the landslide occurred March 9.
Crews worked 24/7 to safely remove dirt, rocks and boulders from SR-27. The landslide was triggered by a series of atmospheric river storms that saturated the steep hillside. The closure disrupted the lives of Topanga Canyon residents, visitors and beachgoers. Thanks to the diligent efforts, traffic flow will resume well in advance of school opening this fall.
“The incredible work of Caltrans geotechnical and construction engineers and geologists and the contractor has returned a vital connection for this community,” said Caltrans Director Tony Tavares. “I thank Governor Newsom, Senator Ben Allen, Assemblymember Jacqui Irwin, Los Angeles County Supervisor Lindsey Horvath and our county partners for their unwavering support, the residents and businesses for their patience and the crews for reopening the roadway as quickly and as safely as possible.”
District 7 photo
“We are deeply grateful to have Topanga Canyon Boulevard open for business and well in advance of the beach season and school year. I want to sincerely thank Caltrans for their work, effort, and diligence through this process,” said Los Angeles County Supervisor Lindsey Horvath.
Approximately 20,000 cubic yards of material was removed and repurposed to Ventura County farmers, Los Angeles County Department of Public Works and the Metabolic Studio and Los Angeles State Historic Park. No material was taken to landfills. The original estimate of 50,000 to 90,000 cubic yards of material needing to be removed was revised once a geotechnical report determined that the slide was shallower than earlier reported. Crews did not encounter any anomalies in the soil during removal, which benefited the expedited opening. The contractor was Flo Engineering of West Covina.