LA drivers brace for traffic chaos as huge disruption planned for major roadway this week

Summer travel is about to get more chaotic for Los Angeles drivers with major work planned for the Pacific Coast Highway and Topanga Canyon Boulevard following the devastating Palisades Fire.

Cal Trans announced that crews will be working through Friday on an 11-mile stretch of the PCH between Temescal Canyon Road in Pacific Palisades and Carbon Beach Terrace in Malibu to repair infrastructure that was damaged in the fires and subsequent mudslides.

Some of the work will go to repairing roadways, bridges and retaining walls damaged by the wildfire that swept through the area in January 2025. Drainage and electrical systems also need to be repaired.

The current closures will take place weekdays between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. with speed limits reduced to 25-35 mph along portions of Temescal Canyon Road to Sunset Boulevard and Sunset Blvd to Carbon Beach Terrace.

There will also be one-lane traffic controls on Topanga Canyon Boulevard during the week in effect Monday night through Saturday morning from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. between Happy Trail and the PCH.

Drivers are cautioned to slow down and be alert with stretches of the roadway down to 15 mph. 

PCH and Topanga Canyon Boulevard finally reopened months after the Palisades Fire burned thousands of homes. They are currently only open during intermittent times with speed zones reduced as construction work continues. 

On the PCH (SR-1) traffic controls remain in place along the 8.5-mile stretch between Chautauqua Boulevard in Los Angeles and Carbon Beach Terrace in Malibu.

---

Download The California Post App, follow us on social, and subscribe to our newsletters

Topanga Canyon Boulevard (SR-27) also reopened to drivers between 5 a.m. and 11:59 p.m., with traffic controls in effect over a 3.6-mile stretch between PCH and Grand View Drive.

The 2025 wildfires caused massive damage along with the PCH, leveling thousands of structures along the Malibu coast and downing utility power poles and powerlines, resulting in full closures of the highways for months.

The fires weakened the soil and vegetation, leading to massive rock slides in the area.

Storms in 2026 further eroded the land, resulting in road closures after parts of Topanga Canyon Boulevard were washed out once again.

Officials said drivers who must travel while the work is in progress should plan for delays or use alternate routes. Real-time traffic controls can be found on Caltrans Quickmap.