Caltrans outlines Topanga Canyon Boulevard repairs, residents press for clearer timing and signs

Caltrans said crews have completed much of the valley portion of an 18‑mile pavement project on Topanga Canyon Boulevard and are pausing canyon paving while emergency repairs and slope stabilization continue.

Katie Masik, Caltrans public information officer, said the overall project runs from Pacific Coast Highway to Devonshire Street in Chatsworth and that the valley portion is about 71% finished. She said canyon paving is tentatively slated to resume in early May, subject to weather and the outcome of current emergency repairs. Masik announced a fiber‑related meeting for Oct. 10 at 1:30 p.m. via Webex to take additional community input.

Residents said the work has created prolonged morning and evening delays that affect school commutes and local business access. "We don't want traffic backed up any more than you guys do," Masik said, but she added that crews must balance worker safety with public needs. Caltrans described recent emergency work — debris removal, temporary K‑rail, reflow barriers and geogrid slope reinforcement — and said culvert repairs and retaining‑wall construction are underway at post miles in the canyon.

John Abbott, a representative joining the meeting virtually, said portable electronic signage can be installed where requested and that Caltrans and contractors will coordinate messages showing nighttime and daytime work schedules. Abbott said he timed traffic during recent mornings and generally observed short holds of roughly eight to 10 minutes, though he acknowledged residents' reports of longer backups.

A recurring complaint from residents focused on contractors putting cones and partial closures in place before the posted start time. Abbott said certain sections have an 8:30 a.m. start for cone placement (noting other sections list 8 a.m.) and asked residents to photograph early activity with a timestamp so staff can follow up. "No cone goes down on the ground" before the agreed start time, he said, and pledged enforcement and greater coordination among Caltrans, Edison and other utilities.

Caltrans staff described two retaining walls — about 200 feet and roughly 350 feet — that are in various stages of construction and warned that drilling and subsurface conditions could affect timelines; work on some walls could extend into 2026. The agency also said it will suspend construction on red‑flag fire days and publish weekly closure notices on the district website.

Next steps: Caltrans will expand a weekly email distribution list to send upcoming work details, consider additional portable signs and hold the Oct. 10 fiber meeting to discuss remaining technical issues and community input.