ORANGE COUNTY, CA — Crews have begun installing massive rocks along an eroding coastal bluff beneath Pacific Coast Highway near Crystal Cove State Beach as emergency repairs continue to protect the roadway.
The work is part of the second phase of Caltrans' Crystal Cove PCH Protection Project, launched after a large crack was discovered in the bluff near Moro Beach, just north of Laguna Beach.
Crews expect to finish installing 12-foot-tall, sand-filled barriers next week. Meanwhile, work has begun on a rock-filled support structure to stabilize the slope and prevent further erosion.
Construction is limited to low tide for worker safety, with the timeline dependent on field conditions.
According to Caltrans, the project has cleared $13.5 million in emergency funding — up from the initial $4 million projection. The project's total cost will be determined once long-term repairs are finalized, representatives said.
Traffic restrictions remain in place on PCH between Reef Point Drive and Irvine Cove Drive.
Both southbound lanes are closed, with one northbound lane converted to southbound traffic. The speed limit is reduced to 25 mph, and pedestrians are prohibited from entering the work area.
The emergency project began after high tides and powerful waves contributed to a growing crack in the coastal bluff. Drone surveys estimate the fracture stretches up to 360 feet long and measures as much as 2 feet wide.
A permanent stabilization plan remains in development, with no completion date announced, officials said.
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