MALIBU—On Tuesday, February 17, Caltrans posted on Facebook that Topanga Canyon Boulevard was closed at Pacific Coast Highway to Grand View Drive as a result of storms that have caused mudslides on the road.
Caltrans Dist. 7 reports that Topanga Canyon Blvd. (State Route 27) remains closed in both directions.
Multiple locations within the closure have mud & debris slides. @CaltransDist7 Maintenance & GeoTech teams on scene surveying the roads.
By Danny Jones
TOPANGA CANYON—Topanga Canyon Boulevard, State Route 27, is closed to traffic between Pacific Coast Highway and Grand View Drive as work crews are busy assessing damage done to the roadway by the storm. The closure is in effect until further notice.
Parts of the area between Pacific Coast Highway and Grand View Drive are covered in rocks, mud, and debris because of the recent storm. It has left hillsides unstable.
The California Department of Transportation advises travelers to use alternate routes if they are traveling due to the closure. Travelers are advised to allow extra travel time.
Updates on road status will be made available by the California Department of Transportation on their quick map via: quickmap.dot.ca.gov. The city of Malibu posted on its Facebook page on Saturday, December 27 that at 1 p.m. Caltrans reopened Topanga Canyon Boulevard in the Palisades Fire recovery work zone (Pacific Coast Highway to Grand View Dr) after crews removed rockfall & debris flows.
Topanga Canyon will remain closed midnight to 5 a.m. daily. Expect delays & drive with caution.
By Daniel Diquinzio
MALIBU—The city of Malibu posted on its Facebook page on Friday, August 29 that Caltrans will have road and lane closures for Palisades Fire and Emergency work that will be conducted on Pacific Coast Highway and Topanga Canyon Boulevard.
Due to the Labor Day holiday weekend, no closures are scheduled Saturday through 11:59 p.m. Monday. Closures will take place Tuesday–Friday, September 5.
Pacific Coast Highway (PCH) (Sunset Boulevard, Pacific Palisades – Carbon Beach Terrace, Malibu):
-Speed limits: McClure Tunnel–Temescal: 45 mph; Temescal–Sunset: 35 mph; Sunset–Carbon Beach Terrace: 25 mph in active work zones.
Potential nighttime lane closures from Ventura County Line to Carbon Beach Terrace:
-Trancas–Guernsey, Corral Canyon Bridge – potential nighttime lane closures. South of Las Flores to Sunset Blvd: Roadway, drainage, slope, and electrical repairs; lane closures as needed, 9 p.m.–6 a.m.
-Big Rock Drive: One lane in each direction, 7 p.m.–5 a.m., September 5–6, for retaining wall work.
-Big Rock–Topanga Canyon Blvd: SCE trenching; northbound lane/shoulder closures, weekdays 4 a.m.–3 p.m., weekends 4 a.m.–4 p.m.
-Topanga Canyon Blvd: Rock mitigation; one northbound lane closed, 6 a.m.–3 p.m. weekdays.
Topanga Canyon Boulevard from PCH to Grand View Drive:
– Closed to traffic nightly, midnight–5 a.m.
– One-way traffic control with pilot car, postmile 2.1–2.8, 5 a.m.–midnight.
– One-way traffic control for SCE trenching, postmile 3.4–4.2, 5 a.m.–midnight.
See details on Caltrans Palisades Fire & Emergency Work webpage: http://dot.ca.gov/…/district…/d7-palisades-fire-repairs.
TOPANGA CANYON—On Sunday, August 24, the Los Angeles Police Department announced a suspect was arrested for an attempted murder in Canoga Park.
The LAPD reported on August 21, around 12:30 p.m., a female victim was walking with her 2-year-old child in a stroller in the parking lot near a restaurant on the 6600 block of Topanga Canyon Boulevard. The suspect, identified as Shayne Suffern, 29, approached the victim and stated, “Give me back my baby.”
The suspect opened his backpack and armed himself with an AR-15 rifle and attempted to fire at the victim.
The rifle malfunctioned. The victim tried to flee from the suspect with her stroller but was chased after the suspect placed his rifle back in his bag.
The victim grabbed her child from the stroller, and the suspect stabbed the victim on the back of her right shoulder with a knife. The victim fled with the child into a restaurant. Suffern returned to his vehicle and fled.
Officers responded and located the suspect in a nearby parking lot. Suffern was taken into custody without incident. The victim sustained a 3-inch stab wound. Paramedics with the Los Angeles Fire Department responded and transported the victim to a local hospital in stable condition. The victim’s child was not injured during the incident.
Officers recovered an AR-15 rifle, knife, and a backpack containing multiple rounds from the suspect’s vehicle. The investigation is ongoing, and there is no evidence to suggest the suspect and victim know each other.
Suffern was arrested and booked for 187(a) PC – Attempt Murder (Booking #7076300). His bail was set at $5,325,000. His arraignment is set for Monday, August 25.
Anyone with details about the incident is asked to contact Topanga Area Detective Acevedo at 818-374-4820. During non-business hours or on weekends, calls should be directed to 1-877-LAPD-24-7 (877-527-3247). Anyone wishing to remain anonymous should call the LA Regional Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (800-222-8477) or go directly to www.lacrimestoppers.org.
By Danny Jones
TOPANGA CANYON—The Los Angeles Fire Department reported on its Facebook page that a hiker had to be rescued on Sunday, May 25.
The LAFD reported at 7:09 p.m. on Sunday, LAFD Ground and Air Resources were deployed to assess and extricate an injured adult male hiker who reportedly fell approximately 30 feet in a rugged and remote section of the popular Stoney Point rock climbing area (east of Topanga Canyon Boulevard, south of the Ronald Reagan [118] Freeway).
An LAFD helicopter lowered a flight paramedic via cable and harness to treat and prepare the patient for a hoist rescue back into the hovering helicopter. Paramedics continued in-flight care during direct helicopter transport to a regional trauma center for the victim.
No additional details about the incident have been disclosed to the public.
By Danny Jones
MALIBU—The city of Malibu announced on Facebook that CaltransDist7 will close the north lane of Topanga Canyon Blvd 1.8 miles north of Pacific Coast Highway, site of this winter’s landslide, for slope repairs Tuesday, September 3 through Friday September 6. Road closures will be from 9 p.m. to 6 a.m.
One lane will be open with alternating traffic. Motorists should expect delays and proceed with caution. Drivers should watch for workers and work vehicles in the road. Traffic citation fines are doubled in construction zones, under CA law.
Caltrans noted a slope restoration project would also begin at postmile 4.9 on State Route 27 (SR-27) South of Circle Trail starting August 19. The work will require reducing about a half mile of SR-27 to one lane with flaggers directing alternating traffic during off-peak hours from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. for four weeks. Signs will be posted, and motorists should expect delays.
The slope along Topanga Creek was seriously eroded by February rainstorms, which undermines a section of the southbound roadway shoulder. Caltrans aims to rebuild the slope with dirt and rocks before the rainy season. There will be no work on holidays or weekends. All work is subject to change due to weather or construction-related issues.
By Trevor
TOPANGA CANYON—On Friday, August 23, the Los Angeles Police Department’s Valley Bureau Homicide detectives are asking for the public’s help in providing any information that would lead to the arrest of the suspect(s) involved in the murder of a 61-year-old male.
The LAPD reported around 6:12 p.m., Topanga area patrol officers responded to a radio call of an “Ambulance Shooting,” in the 5900 block of Topanga Canyon Boulevard. When officers arrived, they found the victim in the parking lot near his vehicle suffering from a gunshot wound.
Paramedics with the Los Angeles Fire Department responded and pronounced the victim deceased at scene. The victim is described as a White male. His name is being withheld pending notification of next of kin.
Detectives from Valley Bureau Homicide were notified and responded to the scene. Detectives canvassed the area for witnesses and further evidence. There is no suspect(s) information, and the motive is unknown.
Anyone with details about the incident is asked to contact Valley Bureau Homicide detectives at (818) 374-9550. During non-business hours, or on weekends, calls should be directed to (310) 726-7700 or 1-877-LAPD-24-7 (877-527-3247). Anyone wanting to remain anonymous should call the LA Regional Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (800-222-8477) or go directly to www.lacrimestoppers.org.
By Trevor
TOPANGA CANYON—Emergency storm damage repairs conducted by the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) will begin on Topanga Canyon Boulevard starting Monday, June 12. The repairs will continue for up to six months, expecting to cause single-lane closures and delays for motorists.
Storms and high levels of rainfall in Los Angeles County last winter led to flooding, mudslides, and runoff damage in several regions. Topanga Canyon Boulevard, also called State Route 27 was impacts by the heavy rainfall. The roadway was closed several times due to adverse weather damage.
In the coming months, Caltrans is addressing remaining safety concerns on Topanga Canyon Boulevard by repairing severe runoff and mudslide damage, removing boulders and rocks that risk falling on the roadway, filling potholes, and clearing drainage systems. Caltrans is also taking preventative steps to mitigate fire danger.
Most of the improvements will be conducted in small increments from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Friday, along with possible intermittent night work. During periodic lane closures, flaggers will direct alternating traffic along the roadway from south of Cezanne Avenue to north of State Route 1 (Pacific Coast Highway).
Signage will begin on June 5 to update residents about upcoming work in the area. Caltrans is working with the Topanga Canyon Council to address the concerns of residents and business owners, including traffic flow, noise, community events, holidays, and fire danger during construction.
By Paige Strickland