Debris Removal On PCH In Malibu Resumes

MALIBU, CA – Work to remove debris at the bottom of a Pacific Coast Highway cliff in Malibu, a project that was put on pause earlier this summer when it caused hour-long traffic jams during peak beach visitor season. Contractors working for the state will remove boulders, rocks, and gravel that washed down from a Latigo Beach cliff and accumulated behind a concrete "K-rail" barrier along the westbound lanes of the highway.

The debris is three feet deep in places, and the K-rail barrier kept the road open during last winter's heavy rainstorms, Caltrans officials said. The project is between Corral Canyon and Latigo Canyon roads, about midway between Bluffs Park and Zuma Beach. The closest detours are 45-minute drives around via either Mulholland Highway or the Ventura (101) Freeway.

City of Malibu officials asked the state to hold off on the project, the gigantic traffic jams developed when repairs began in August. Caltrans owns the highway through Malibu.

Workers will close one westbound lane of the highway from 6 a.m. to 2 p.m., according to an announcement from Caltrans District 7. Eastbound traffic will not be affected, and there was no word if weekend motorists would be spared.

City News Service and Patch staffer Emily Holland contributed to this post; Image via Flickr