Work Underway to Repair Temescal Canyon Road

By SARAH SHMERLING | Editor-in-Chief

The office of Councilmember Traci Park announced that contract work to repair a portion of Temescal Canyon Road would begin on Monday, October 2.

“Repairing this road has been a top priority for Councilwoman Park, who recognizes it as the central traffic artery of the Palisades—and vital for emergency preparedness,” according to an email. “Because of that, the councilwoman expedited a motion through the City Council to secure funding for the repairs and collaborated closely with relevant city departments to ensure the process was completed promptly.”

Los Angeles City Council unanimously passed a motion, introduced by Park and Councilmember Bob Blumenfield, during its meeting on Friday, August 25, that instructed the City Administrative Officer to identify funds “to implement a mitigation plan for Temescal Canyon Road to address water seepage and roadway damage.”

“It is one of only two, or maybe three, roadways that allows us to get in and out of Pacific Palisades,” Pacific Palisades Community Council Chair Maryam Zar said during public comment at the City Council meeting. “Not only is it a major road artery that we use for our daily commute, but it’s also an evacuation route for us. Pacific Palisades sits in a Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zone, the entirety of the Palisades is in that zone.”

The motion instructed the City Administrative Officer to identify $800,000 so that the Bureau of Engineering could implement its mitigation plan to address water seepage and roadway damage along the southbound lane between Pacific Coast Highway and West Bowdoin Street along Temescal Canyon Road.

The BOE reported that the street has been resurfaced twice, according to PPCC, but “underlying water issues” remained, which has caused “recurring challenges.” The bureau’s mitigation plan included trench work and the installation of an underground pipe, which would prevent water from damaging the surface of the roadway.

“We are mindful of traffic impacts and how critical this route is for emergency ingress and egress to the Pacific Palisades,” Park wrote in an email that was circulated Saturday, September 30. “We appreciate your ongoing patience and cooperation as we move forward with these essential repairs.”

The Bureau of Engineering advised CD 11 that repairs were projected to finish around the end of October. During repair work, the streets were expected to remain open to local traffic.

“The workers, trucks, supplies and equipment should be out of the way of traffic,” CD 11 Field Deputy, Brentwood / Pacific Palisades / West Los Angeles Michael Amster reported.