Gov. Gavin Newsom declared a state of emergency Friday to help fund much-needed repairs to roads that were damaged in this year’s storms, including the scenic Topanga Canyon Boulevard that was blocked by millions of tons of debris.
The governor’s action comes two weeks after California Department of Transportation officials said the massive 300-foot-high landslide that covered Topanga Canyon Boulevard in March with mud and rocks would not be cleaned up before the fall, “if all goes well”.
The proclamation allows Caltrans to apply for funding from the Federal Highway Administration’s Emergency Relief Program, which could cover up to 100% of repairs completed 180 days after the emergency, according to the governor’s office.
It would also help state officials secure federal aid for other roads damaged by torrential rains, including a portion of Highway 1 in Big Sur that collapsed and fell into the ocean.
“March’s storms caused significant damage to critical parts of our transportation infrastructure, not only impacting traffic in our communities, but also harming small businesses and workers,” Newsom said in a statement. “The state is working overtime to complete repairs as safely and quickly as possible, and I have signed a state of emergency proclamation that will help ensure we receive critical federal funding to help affected communities recover from these devastating storms.
Much of California was inundated by storms, with Southern California receiving more than a year’s worth of rain in just a few weeks, causing mudslides and flooding.
On Topanga Canyon Boulevard, officials said the landslide now covering the road at mile marker 1.8 on State Route 27 is more than twice as large — with about 80,000 cubic yards of debris covering the area — as the massive landslide that occurred in the area in the 1940s.
The incident forced residents to take detours for hours and local businesses lost revenue, according to the governor’s office.
Due to slope instability and water continuing to escape from the landslide, Caltrans official on April 18 said to clear the road, crews would have to remove dirt from the top of the slide. Workers plan to lower the mass of debris to prevent more dirt and rocks from sliding off the hillside.
When part of Highway 1 in Big Sur collapsed over Easter weekend, the road closure also stranded tourists and locals. This week, convoys resumed twice daily along one lane of the damaged section to transport residents, workers and visitors to and from the area.
The emergency declaration would also extend to storm-damaged roads in Alameda, Contra Costa, Los Angeles, Marin, Mendocino, Monterey, Napa, Nevda, Plumas, San Bernardino, San Mateo, Santa Barbara, Santa Clara, Santa Cruz , Solano, Sonoma. , Trinity and Ventura counties, according to the governor’s office.
According to the Federal Highway Administration, work must be completed within 270 days, but extensions may be requested.
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