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Expect PCH traffic delays as rock mitigation project gets underway
A view of the Pacific Coast Highway north of Malibu.
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Jim Mullhaupt/ Flickr
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Photo by Eric Demarcq via Flickr Creative Commons
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Santa Monica slate that has been unearthed during 405 construction, most of the weak rock has had retaining walls built to keep the slate from spilling onto the freeway.
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Ken Scarboro/KPCC
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As part of a project to install rock fencing along the slopes, Caltrans is closing both directions of the Pacific Coast Highway, south of Mugu Rock, on Wednesday. Motorists can expect delays of up to 30 minutes as well as intermittent closures until 4:30 p.m. Wednesday from Las Posas Road to north of Deer Creek Road, according to Caltrans.
Lauren Wonder, spokesperson for Caltrans District 7, told KPCC that the project's purpose is to avoid rocks coming down onto Pacific Coast Highway.
"There was a fire earlier this year, and the rocks up on top of the hill were loosened so we are placing a fence to protect the rocks from coming down onto Pacific Coast Highway," said Wonder.
Caltrans spokesperson Patrick Chandler told KPCC that there are still significant delays and traffic backing up on the southbound side.
"Folks should consider taking a different route. This is still an amazing place. ... The weather is great, but folks should really consider taking a different route," said Chandler.
Chandler says the helicopter has lifted several pieces of rock up onto the slope, just about a quarter mile south of Mugu Rock.
Sponsored message
Earlier this morning, Caltrans tweeted a picture of crews attaching rock netting to a helicopter:
TWEET: Crews attaching rock netting to helicopter along #PCH
This story has been updated.
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