The Topanga Town Council has been working on behalf of the community to help expedite current and future road work in the canyon, and to keep residents informed about road work schedules. Below, you’ll find updates about Southern California Edison’s Targeted Undergrounding Project, as well as Caltrans’ landslide repair work, and plans for repaving Topanga Canyon Blvd.
SCE UNDERGROUNDING PROJECT:
For public safety, Southern California Edison (SCE) has determined it is essential to reduce fire risk by undergrounding power lines in Severe Risk Areas that haven’t already been upgraded with covered conductors. In July, SCE began the process of undergrounding lines along Topanga Canyon Blvd, with the current project area stretching from Woodland Crest to Happy Trail. The construction is expected to be completed by May 2025.
However, in recent discussions with SCE about roadwork schedules and construction hours, the Topanga Town Council has been working with SCE to explore ways to expedite the timeline, aiming to finish the project several months earlier. The objective is to complete the construction as quickly and efficiently as possible, minimizing disruptions to the community. In addition, TCEP is collaborating with the Town Council to ensure that the contractors clearly understand and follow Topanga’s specific emergency evacuation protocols throughout the project. More updates will be provided as the work progresses.
CALTRANS HIGHWAY 27 REPAVING PROJECT:
You may have noticed that Caltrans is repaving Topanga Canyon Blvd in the valley. This large-scale project spans from the 118 Freeway to PCH. To streamline the work and reduce disruptions in our town, Caltrans is coordinating with SCE on their undergrounding project to ensure both efforts progress smoothly together. Stay tuned for more updates.
CALTRANS LANDSLIDE WORK:
Throughout the last week of September, Caltrans conducted overnight one-lane closures so that workers could secure straw wattles on the bare slope where the March 2024 landslide occurred. The straw wattles are intended to prevent soil runoff during the rainy season. The next part of the slope stabilization project will focus on hydroseeding the hillside with native seeds in coordination with California State Parks to further prevent soil erosion. That work has yet to be scheduled.
