Lane Closures Resume on PCH, Topanga Canyon Boulevard This Week for Fire Repairs
This article was originally written for the Palisadian-Post, published May 25, 2026.
Caltrans will resume lane closures on Pacific Coast Highway and Topanga Canyon Boulevard on Tuesday, May 26, as crews continue Palisades Fire recovery work, with single-lane closures possible weekdays this week.
The closures affect an 8.5-mile stretch of PCH from Temescal Canyon Road in Pacific Palisades to Carbon Beach Terrace in Malibu. The segment between Temescal Canyon Road and Sunset Boulevard has a reduced speed limit of 35 mph, while the stretch from Sunset Boulevard to Carbon Beach Terrace remains an active work zone with a 25 mph speed limit and possible single-lane closures.
Work zones on PCH this week include fire-damaged roadway as well as drainage and electrical repairs south of Las Flores Canyon Road; Southern California Edison electrical work between Carbon Canyon Road and Las Flores Canyon Road; catchment wall construction south of Big Rock Drive; slope repair and culvert cleanup south of Topanga Canyon Boulevard; and retaining wall work near Getty Villa south of Coastline Drive and north of Porto Marina Way.
On Topanga Canyon Boulevard, which Caltrans reopened to 24-hour public access on May 12 after months of restricted travel, retaining wall work continues behind k-rail between mileposts 2.5 and 2.8, where the speed limit is 15 mph. One-lane traffic control will be in effect at milepost 2.7 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. weekdays for retaining wall drainage work and Verizon trenching between PCH and milepost 1.8 will require one-lane control from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. weekdays.
Farther north on State Route 27, SCE electrical work between Old Topanga Canyon Road and Happy Trail will require one-lane traffic control from 9 p.m. to 5:30 a.m. weekdays.
The Palisades Fire, which started January 7, 2025, burned more than 23,000 acres and destroyed 6,800 structures, causing widespread damage along both highways. PCH and SR-27 were fully closed for months before reopening to the public with traffic controls on May 23, 2025. At least 10 active Caltrans emergency projects are underway along the two corridors, with structural work on Topanga Canyon Boulevard expected to be completed by summer 2026, according to the agency.
Closures are weather-permitting and subject to change. Motorists should expect delays and are advised to use alternative routes during work hours. Fines can be doubled in a work zone. Current traffic conditions are available on the Caltrans QuickMap.
