Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Infrastructure topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Caltrans says Topanga Canyon Boulevard reopened after slide cleanup; geologists monitoring future stability
Summary
Caltrans reported the March 9 slide on Topanga Canyon Boulevard was cleared and the road reopened in early June after crews removed about 12,000 cubic yards of material; officials said geologists judge the slope secure but will coordinate planting and monitoring with State Parks and the community.
Caltrans told the Topanga Town Council on Monday that the stretch of Topanga Canyon Boulevard closed by a March landslide has been reopened after emergency work in which crews removed about 12,000 cubic yards of material. "We were able to open it in the wee wee hours of June 2," Caltrans representative Lauren Wonder said, adding the work finished close to midnight.
Wonder said the slide was less severe than first feared and was not a deep rotational failure but "basically something across the table, just a slope of materials that came down." Trucks made multiple round‑trip deliveries of soil and debris to nearby county locations and construction projects, which helped speed the operation.
Geotechnical staff are continuing to monitor the slope. "There is no concern for additional materials coming down, but our geologists are monitoring," Wonder said, adding that because no additional movement is expected "the mesh is not needed." She said Caltrans will explore revegetation options with State Parks and the community.
Residents asked how and when planting would be done to stabilize the exposed slope before winter rains. Roger, a longtime resident, warned that seeding too early could mean seedlings die before the rainy season; Jackie Martin, identified as a geotechnical expert on the call, said crews typically plan planting later in the year to increase survival and that Caltrans will provide timing and technique details once coordinated with State Parks.
Wonder also noted intermittent one‑lane closures may be needed to install K‑rail and other short traffic controls, but said these would be brief and not full freeway closures. The town council asked Caltrans to follow up on a perceived timing mismatch between a news release and on‑the‑ground K‑rail activity; Wonder said she would check and report back to the council.
Next steps noted at the meeting include continued geologic monitoring, coordination with State Parks on planting or hydroseeding approaches, and follow‑up communications from Caltrans to the town council and residents.
