Residents in the burn area of the Palisades Fire now have partial access to the Pacific Coast Highway (PCH) as of Thursday morning. The roadway had been closed due to the blaze and subsequent mudslides triggered by recent storms. As reported by ABC7, the segment between Chautauqua Boulevard and Carbon Beach Terrace is open to Malibu residents, school buses, and essential business workers. However, with one lane in either direction and a mandated speed limit of 25 mph, officials warn of potential delays.
Police and sheriff's deputies, in addition to being on the scene at checkpoints to provide information on access passes, National Guard members were present to assist the community, as noted by ABC7. These passes are available at Malibu City Hall and a Disaster Recovery Center on Pico Boulevard, with specified hours for pickup. According to what Paula Griffin, a Pacific Palisades resident, told ABC7, confusion persists within the community as changes to road accessibility seem frequent.
As CBS Los Angeles indicates, Caltrans recommends those trying to reach Malibu use alternative routes, such as the 101 Freeway due to continued limited access on PCH. Specific traffic signals have been set to flash red, to be treated as four-way stops, and no parking or pedestrians are allowed in active work zones for safety reasons.
As per The Malibu Times, the LAPD and LASD oversee pass distribution. Despite improved accessibility, recovery efforts continue, and temporary closures remain a possibility.
