Denise Hess
Online Writer
Several roads leading to Malibu remained closed Wednesday after
thunderstorms pummeled the area Tuesday night.
Pacific Coast Highway was closed near Topanga Canyon due to a major mud
and rock slide that is blocking both north and southbound lanes of
traffic. Caltrans is working around the clock to clear the rocks, and
did not give any indication to when the roadway will be reopened.
Malibu Canyon Road was also closed as mud and rocks fell early Tuesday
morning, covering the roadway and leaving several large boulders
hanging over the edge of the cliffs above. The Los Angeles County
Sheriff’s Department hopes to have the debris cleared and the road open
by the end of the week.
With only two main arteries left with access to Malibu, many Pepperdine
faculty members and students worried they would not be able to get home
on the other side of the Santa Monica Mountains.
The sheriff’s department closed Kanan Road at approximately 7 p.m.,
further limiting access to Malibu, but soon opened a diversion through
Troutdale Road, which comes out on Mulholland Drive and Malibu Canyon
Road.
Unfortunately, many people were not informed of the diversion around
Kanan, and assumed the road was completely closed. This left them with
the last resort of taking Pacific Coast Highway north up to Las Posas
Road in Camarillo and back down Highway 101 to their homes.
Wednesday morning Kanan Road was reopened in both directions but Malibu
Canyon Road, Pacific Coast Highway at Topanga Canyon and Decker Road
are all closed indefinitely as workers try to clear a path for
commuters.
As it is the shortest of the two routes left leading to Malibu, The Los
Angeles County Sheriff’s Department warns that major delays can be
expected on Kanan Road during peak traffic times. For the latest road
conditions, call (310) 506-ROAD (7623).
02-24-2005