Encinitas Reopens D Street Beach Access Staircase

ENCINITAS, CA — The D Street Beach access staircase in Encinitas reopened to the public Wednesday after months of emergency repairs.

Emergency structural concerns prompted the city to close the staircase in April 2025. D Street is a popular access point to the mile-long stretch of beach running below the bluffs from Moonlight Beach south to Swami's Point.

"City officials thank the community for their patience during the closure and are pleased to restore full public access to this vital beach access point," officials said in a news release.

The staircase was closed after inspections identified structural deficiencies requiring repairs. The city completed design and permitting under an emergency authorization and began construction in late summer 2025.

According to the city, work included fabrication and installation of custom steel brackets to reinforce structural connections, repairs to deteriorated components, and electrical and lighting improvements to enhance safety and usability. The budget for the project including design, permitting and construction was approximately $1 million.

The D Street staircase was originally constructed in 1989 and renovated in 2002. City officials said the staircase is the most structurally complex beach access point in Encinitas, and consists of multiple timber stair towers and concrete walkways descending the coastal bluff.