Your Top 3 Questions about the California Incline Temporary Closures Answered

April 3, 2017 2:00 PM
by Curtis Castle

The California Incline project was recently completed and since it was re-opened there have been several temporary closures to clear debris from the new roadway. We've been getting a few questions about them. Here are your top 3, and our answers. If you have questions, please feel free to get in touch with us! Get in touch now!

1. Did the project not address erosion?

While the preliminary concept ideas for the project included bluff face stabilization such as gunite and/or retaining walls, regulatory authorities did not permit any permanent installations that would alter the appearance of the existing bluffs. The appearance of the bluffs is considered an aesthetic feature of the Santa Monica coastline, one we worked and succeeded in preserving.

    

2. If the project did not address erosion, was anything done to protect bluffs?

Yes.  The project focused on increasing the factor of safety of the bluffs. To help increase the bluff's resistance to failure, the bluff face adjacent to the California Incline was stabilized with 1,000 soil nails.  The soil nails were installed to mitigate global or catastrophic failures (i.e. landslides) by securing the weaker outer material to stronger, more stable material under Palisades Park.  The soil nails range in length from 15 to 75 feet depending on their location.  Additionally, the City recently completed a project to re-grade portions of Palisades Park to mitigate water running off the upper edge and down bluff face. 

3. What can the users and the community expect in the future?

The bluff face between Palisades Park and the California Incline has been slowly receding for almost 100 years.  Additionally, there have been several small to moderate landslides over the last 60-70 years.  However, completion of the California Incline Bridge Replacement and Palisades Park Drainage Improvements projects has alleviated the risk of long term closures to both the Incline and the park.

Authored By

Curtis Castle
Principal Civil Engineer