Orange County’s coastal infrastructure is again facing significant disruptions as high surf and erosion, intensified by the El Niño season, impact local roads and rail lines. Currently, two lanes of Pacific Coast Highway (PCH) are closed between Newport Beach and Laguna Beach, while a segment of the Pacific Surfliner tracks is shut down between Laguna Niguel/Mission Viejo and Oceanside.
The PCH closure affects the stretch between Reef Point Drive and Irvine Cove Drive, where southbound traffic has been diverted. According to Caltrans and an Instagram post by Laguna Beach, both southbound lanes are closed, and traffic in both directions is now using the two northbound lanes, operating one lane each way. There is no anticipated reopening date for this section of PCH.
This closure is part of an ongoing phased repair effort to stabilize a crack that emerged in the bluff supporting the highway on October 13. Initial work, which constituted phase one, involved placing a plastic tarp over the split to protect it from anticipated rain. Crews are now working to place smaller rocks, known as fill buttress, and larger rocks to prevent a potential landslide. This specialized work can only be performed safely during low tide, according to Laguna Beach.
Adding to the coastal challenges, a portion of the Pacific Surfliner tracks between Laguna Niguel/Mission Viejo and Oceanside is closed starting today and will remain shut until Friday. This closure is directly attributed to high surf overtopping the tracks. Unlike some previous incidents, no bus services are being provided to bridge the gap for riders during this current interruption.
This particular section of the train line is no stranger to closures. Strong surf damaged the tracks during a round of storms over Memorial Day weekend, which rendered the line out of commission for more than a week at that time. Today, the Orange County Transportation Authority (OCTA) board voted to extend an emergency declaration, initially made in late September, which allows the agency to proceed with efforts to bring more sand to bolster the coast.
However, under current projections, this additional sand is not expected to reach the beaches until June, well after the anticipated end of this year’s historic El Niño season. The OCTA also announced on Monday that plans have been developed for a new shoreline protection structure. This proposed structure will utilize pipes to provide stability along 1,400 feet of the Surfliner train tracks, replacing existing riprap, or large boulders, currently used in the area. Jim Beil, OCTA Executive Director of Capital Programs, stated at Monday’s meeting that "It’s our worst condition out there, we’re proposing this structure to protect the tracks."
The continued focus on reinforcing the coast comes as a potentially powerful El Niño season approaches Orange County. The National Weather Service has predicted a high chance of a historical weather event occurring between now and the end of the year. Several coastal cities have already declared emergency status in the wake of tropical storms that brought high tides and surface flooding to communities along the coast.
