The reopening of Pacific Coast Highway (PCH) in the Palisades community has been delayed due to a disagreement between city and county officials. While Los Angeles County proceeds with plans to reopen access to Malibu and unincorporated portions of PCH, the city of Los Angeles will maintain checkpoints until Monday.
Amid a disagreement between city and county officials, plans to remove all checkpoints for access to the Palisades community along Pacific Coast Highway ( PCH ) have been delayed until Monday. This delay comes as Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass announced that Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) responsibility for patrolling the area will be transferred to the California Highway Patrol and the National Guard.
Bass stated that this change will allow the LAPD to increase its service citywide while ensuring the security of the Palisades area. She cited an agreement with Governor Gavin Newsom to relieve the LAPD, which has been on Tactical Alert since fires erupted in the area on January 7th. \Bass expressed gratitude for Newsom's continued partnership in addressing this unprecedented disaster, emphasizing that the plan secures the Palisades and alleviates the strain on the LAPD, whose ability to respond throughout Los Angeles has been impacted for nearly a month. She reiterated her priority to rebuild the Palisades as rapidly and safely as possible. While the city's portion of PCH will remain restricted for another day, Los Angeles County proceeded with plans to reopen access to Malibu and unincorporated sections of PCH at 8 a.m. on Sunday. \PCH was reopened from the Ventura County line to Coastline Drive, but remains closed from Coastline Drive to Entrada Drive. This segment will reopen with one lane in each direction at 8 a.m. on Monday. County Supervisor Lindsey Horvath expressed frustration with the city's delay in aligning with the county's reopening plans. Horvath stated that Los Angeles County was ready to reopen on Sunday but delayed to align with the City of Los Angeles to minimize public confusion. She emphasized the need for consistency and coordination during this challenging time, reiterating that the opening is intended for residents and their families to resume their lives and local traffic is highly encouraged. \Horvath added that, due to reduced lanes and speeds, traffic will be slow. She assured the public that the Sheriff's Department will be at elevated staffing levels with highly visible patrols along PCH and into neighborhoods to protect communities from potential exploitation. \Under the revised plan announced by Bass, checkpoints and proof-of-residence or entry passes will still be required to enter the Palisades. Residents and contractors will need to obtain access passes on Sunday between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. at 1150 Pacific Coast Highway (Lot 3) in Santa Monica. Contractors are allowed in the fire area but must provide identification and proof of employment by specific residents within the impacted areas. They will also need to check-in at Lot 3 each day to be granted access and receive a new pass. New locations for residents and contractors to obtain access passes will be announced on Sunday. \When PCH fully reopens on Monday, travel will be reduced to one lane in each direction between McClure Tunnel and Carbon Beach Terrace at reduced speeds. Local-only traffic is encouraged. There will be a 25 mph speed limit along the reopened section of PCH, and all signals will be flashing red. Drivers are urged to avoid the area if possible due to anticipated extreme congestion and to be mindful of the active construction zone with trucks moving in and out. \Restricting access to one lane in each direction and reducing speeds will allow cleanup and utility repairs to continue, according to Horvath's office. Topanga Canyon Boulevard remains closed from PCH to Grand View Drive. People entering the burn zones are also urged to wear masks and protect themselves from potential health hazards. Updates on road closures throughout the county can be found at pw.lacounty.gov/roadclosures. Additional information is available at lacity.gov.
Palisades PCH Reopening Los Angeles County City Checkpoints Fire Traffic Disagreement
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