From Encinal Bluffs, how far away is the Malibu Country Mart? On a map it is a fixed number of miles. On Pacific Coast Highway, Caltrans has scheduled work along that whole stretch from this fall into winter 2029/2030.
Caltrans scheduled its western Malibu pavement project to begin on Tuesday, Oct. 27. The project covers Pacific Coast Highway from Malibu Lagoon to the Ventura County line. Most Malibu neighborhoods sit somewhere along that span. Encinal Bluffs sits near its western end, so nearly every trip east to Zuma, Trancas, Point Dume or the Civic Center runs through the work zone. That makes the hour of departure a larger factor than distance for errands, guests and appointments.
The Work Zone Covers the Whole Drive
On its project page, Caltrans says the western segment will rehabilitate about 63 lane miles of highway at an estimated cost of $69 million. The page also says the project includes elements of the state's Complete Streets program, which makes room for cyclists and pedestrians alongside drivers. According to the agency's announcement, the contractor is Chumo Construction Inc. of Baldwin Park.
Hans Laetz of Malibu.FM described the limits in local terms. He reported that the work runs "from Malibu Creek Bridge all the way out to the county line near Neptune's Net." That describes the drive from Encinal Bluffs to the Civic Center and back.
The project's scale reflects how long the highway has gone without major work. In an earlier Malibu.FM story, Laetz reported that this will be the first modernization of most of the highway's layout since it was widened to four lanes in 1947. He also noted that PCH was repaved roughly every 10 years until 2010, and that most of it has now gone 16 years without new pavement. Caltrans's own description lists removing and replacing crumbling pavement, then grinding and repaving the full width of the road. That is why the schedule runs for years instead of months.
A Day That Splits at 3 p.m.
The project's terms are simple, and they set the rhythm for everyone who lives at the west end. Caltrans says crews will work Monday through Friday from 6 a.m. to 3 p.m., and its release makes one commitment:
"At least one lane will always be open in each direction while work is being conducted."
The same release says motorists should expect delays and are "strongly advised to use alternate routes." It also notes that the schedule depends on weather and that all dates and times are subject to change. Caltrans has not announced any weekend work. The project FAQ includes a nighttime noise limit for the contractor from 9 p.m. to 6 a.m.
Here is how the published hours fall across a week:
| Window | Status under the published schedule |
|---|---|
| Weekdays, 6 a.m. to 3 p.m. | Active work hours; at least one lane each direction; delays expected |
| Weekdays, after 3 p.m. | Outside announced work hours |
| Weekday evenings and overnight | Outside announced work hours; contractor noise limit applies 9 p.m. to 6 a.m. |
| Saturday and Sunday | No weekend work announced |
For a house on the bluffs, this changes how a weekday is planned. A mid-morning appointment in the Civic Center now falls inside the work window both ways. A 3:30 p.m. departure, or a Saturday errand, does not. Guests driving out from the city face the same rule, so a Friday arrival after 3 p.m. is a different drive from a Friday arrival at noon.
Caltrans has not published the order in which blocks will be worked, so the backup could sit near Encinal Canyon Road one week and closer to Malibu Lagoon the next. Its FAQ says advance notice will come through changeable message signs along the highway and the District 7 social media accounts.
West of the Bluffs, the Afternoon Runs Long
The work zone also extends west to the county line. But the places closest to Encinal Bluffs on that end are short trips, and their posted hours run well past 3 p.m. On weekdays, the afternoons these places stay open line up with the hours when crews have stopped for the day.
| Destination | What the operator lists |
|---|---|
| Neptune's Net | Fall and winter hours, October to March: Monday to Thursday 10:30 a.m. to 7 p.m., Friday 10:30 a.m. to 8 p.m., Saturday and Sunday 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. |
| Leo Carrillo State Park | Day-use parking 8 a.m. to 10 p.m.; currently listed as "Open with restrictions in services and/or facilities" |
| Nicholas Canyon County Beach | Upper and lower parking for 151 cars, restrooms, showers, picnic tables, stairs to the sand |
| Robert H. Meyer Memorial State Beach | El Pescador, La Piedra and El Matador; parking 8 a.m. to sunset; limited bluff-top lots with paths and stairs |
Neptune's Net says it is open seven days a week and posts special hours for Thanksgiving and Christmas. Seasonal hours can change, so confirm them on the restaurant's site before a holiday-week visit. On weekdays, its 7 p.m. closing leaves about four hours after crews stop at 3 p.m., and Friday's 8 p.m. close adds one more.
Leo Carrillo has the longest window of the group. With day-use parking open until 10 p.m., the tide pools and reefs on the State Parks page fit easily into a weekday evening. Its listing does not say which services are restricted, so check the park page before planning around the camp store or a specific facility.
Nicholas Canyon is the beach Los Angeles County calls "Zeros," or "Point Zero," for its surf break. Its stairs to the beach were refurbished in a county project completed in June 2023. The three Robert H. Meyer coves keep shorter hours than Leo Carrillo. Their lots close at sunset, which will come early through winter, so on weekdays the time between 3 p.m. and closing is short. On weekends it is not an issue.
What the Finished Road Will Look Like
Several years of disruption will leave a different highway behind. Caltrans lists pavement rehabilitation, Americans with Disabilities Act curb ramps, guardrail, signage and road technology upgrades, roadway lighting, signal improvements and new striping. Malibu.FM reports that the repaving will bring painted bike lanes and narrower traffic lanes on both sides of the highway. The outlet explains that the state legislature requires Caltrans to include bike lanes, crosswalks and other non-vehicle features in repaving projects within California cities.
On the length of the work, Caltrans's announcement gives a construction period of fall 2026 through winter 2029/2030. The project page lists fall 2026 through spring 2030. Either way, a resident who signed a lease or started a remodel this fall will likely see the project from start to finish. Malibu.FM also reports that construction will pause during the Olympic Games. Caltrans's own materials do not include that detail, so treat it as reported until the agency publishes a revised schedule.
Caltrans also warns that "residents and local businesses located nearby may experience noise, vibrations and grinding associated with construction activities." Houses set back on the bluffs are farther from that noise than storefronts at the edge of the highway. The daytime work hours keep it mostly within the 6 a.m. to 3 p.m. window.
Then the Eastern Half Begins
The western project is the first of two. A second Caltrans contract, Project II, covers about 57 lane miles from the McClure Tunnel in Santa Monica to just south of Cross Creek Road, at an estimated cost of $85 million. The project page lists its construction as "Late 2027 through 2030." Malibu.FM has reported an earlier start for the eastern work. The agency's posted schedule is the one to follow, though any project of this size can shift.
For Encinal Bluffs, this matters on the longer drives. Trips into Santa Monica or the Westside would pass through both work zones while they overlap. The highway's final form will also come out of a separate process. Caltrans is studying a safety project on PCH between Las Flores Canyon Road and Carbon Canyon Road, and the Malibu Times covered its community workshop in September. Malibu.FM notes that the repaving and the safety work are separate efforts.
Checking the Road Before the Car Starts
Caltrans says exact schedules will be announced ahead of time, and it points drivers to the following tools:
- QuickMap, Caltrans's live map of lane closures, incidents and conditions
- Caltrans's highway information line at 1-800-427-7623, which reports current highway conditions
- Changeable message signs on PCH and District 7's social media accounts for advance notice of closures
The canyon roads up to the 101 are the obvious alternatives Caltrans has in mind. Check QuickMap before choosing one, because their status can change from day to day for reasons unrelated to the paving. The project page remains the official source for schedule changes, and Caltrans says it will give notice before the hours or the work zone change.
Until winter 2029/2030, the crews will set the weekday schedule along PCH. If you are weighing a sale, a lease or a timeline around these years of road work, Irene Dazzan-Palmer and her team can show how the west end is pricing right now. Request a Private Market Valuation for a discreet look at your property.
