Plans to address cracks, compromised cliff along PCH at Crystal Cove outlined

Caltrans has approval for $4 million in emergency repairs funding to address a large crack in the slope below Pacific Coast Highway, near where the major beachside roadway connects Laguna Beach and Newport Beach.

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The crack was spotted on Oct. 10 as the latest big swell and high tides slammed the ocean-facing slope. Waves have been rapidly wearing away the coastal bluffs.

A drone survey model estimates the crack extends up to 360 feet in length and reaches a width of up to 24 inches, according to Caltrans.

The southbound right lane between Reef Point Drive and Irvine Cove Drive has been closed since workers discovered the slope crack at the Moro Beach section of Crystal Cove, a closure that will remain in place until repairs are completed.

Caltrans will address the compromised slope in three phases, the state agency said in an announcement.

Over the weekend, as part of the first phase for “immediate protective intervention,” a plastic tarp was put in place to prevent surface runoff and keep rainwater from entering the existing crack ahead of the rain expected mid-week.

“Protecting the traveling public is our top priority, and we are moving urgently to stabilize this slope and reduce the risk of further erosion,” Caltrans District 12 Director Lan Zhou said in a statement. “We are taking immediate steps to address the developing cracks while preparing for longer-term repairs. We will continue monitoring conditions and coordinating with our partner agencies as this work progresses.”

Caltrans will continue monitoring the slope and PCH roadway conditions through drone imagery and surveys to track movement and better assess project timelines as work progresses, officials said.

The work schedule will be subject to change due to traffic incidents, weather and availability of equipment and materials, they said. An estimated 29,000 to 32,000 vehicles use the road daily.

Laguna Beach Unified School District Superintendent Don Austin said he has been in contact with Caltrans on behalf of El Morro Elementary School parents worried about the compromised slope that sits not far from the school.

“They have concerns about what they’ve seen on the news and along PCH near El Moro,” Austin said in a social media post. “At this time, we are still maintaining our transportation as normal.”

The school district is coming up with plans if it needs to reroute transportation, “both immediately or with a couple days’ notice if additional repairs are required,” he said.

He advised parents to sign up for district alerts and the city’s Nixle program for any changes or notifications.

Caltrans’ second phase will be to do “interim stabilization” by filling in a buttress at the bottom of the slope to prevent further slope movement and crack growth, using rocks to help protect the slope from further erosion.

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Work will be scheduled around tidal conditions, officials said, because crews can only perform the work during low tide.

Fixes will also need to be done to the access road located just north of the Crystal Cove State Beach Lifeguard Headquarters, also damaged during the big swell event earlier this month, in order to safely accommodate the contractor’s equipment and materials needed to reach the work site, according to Caltrans.

Caltrans will also work with California State Parks to develop a long-term stabilization plan, officials said.

The project timeline will depend on the selected approach, with a clearer timeframe expected as the evaluation and planning process progresses, the agency said.

There are 6.5-foot tides expected later this month, and even bigger king tides over Thanksgiving and Christmas.

Whether those tides will coincide with big waves, like the surf conditions that battered the region and caused Newport Beach streets and homes to recently flood, is unknown.

A Kelvin wave is also contributing to issues up and down the coast — the warm-water anomaly that travels from around the equator has pushed water levels higher for an extended period. The higher tidal levels are thought to add up to 2 feet above the astronomical tide tables.

Caltrans was already doing assessments for some long-term planning for the stretches of PCH along Crystal Cove and Bolsa Chica State Beach, also an area prone to flooding.

“These areas already experience periodic flooding and roadway closures, and future coastal hazards are expected to intensify these challenges,” Caltrans officials said in a statement when the study was announced.

The plan for that project was to conduct an existing conditions and coastal hazard analysis this winter, with concepts presented next fall and a draft final study by summer 2027.

The vulnerable area at Crystal Cove being studied spans 300 feet north of Moro Ridge Road to the Moro campgrounds.

A community survey launched Oct. 13 and will be open to the public through Nov. 6, with a virtual workshop planned for 6 p.m. on Oct. 21 with a presentation about climate resilience strategies. The public will be able to share input.

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For more information: publicinput.com/pchcarp