San Clemente Emergency Work: Week One Progress
Written by Jennifer McLawhorn, Managing Editor
Courtesy of OCTA
ORANGE COUNTY, Calif. - OCTA has begun maintenance work to stabilize the track in San Clemente.
Recently, RT&S reported that passenger service would be suspended for six weeks beginning on April 28th. This is to allow crews to perform emergency work in the affected area. Now, OCTA has issued an update stating crews have made “significant progress” in the first week of the six-week closure. In Area 1, crews have made progress in repairing riprap as part of its efforts to protect the line from “sliding bluffs and coastal erosion.” In repairing riprap, excavators were positioned on the beach and inland side of the track. Rocks were “strategically sorted” and placed where the previous riprap was located. Crews will continue working in Areas 1 and 2 over the weekend and during next week.
During the first week, crews worked to remove the remaining spans of the damaged pedestrian bridge at Mariposa Point in Area 3. Each span, made of steel, measured around 80 feet long and weighed 20,000 pounds. In Areas 1 and 2 located north of Mariposa Point, OCTA says it is working to source 240,000 cubic yards of sand that will be placed in those two areas. In addition, the California Coastal Commission will consider a proposal from OCTA at the next meeting on May 7th. The proposal includes constructing a catchment wall at Mariposa Point in Area 3 as well as restoring the pedestrian beach trail.
Previously, OCTA submitted an emergency Coastal Development Permit application to the Coastal Commission. The total cost of the package is around $300 million. It includes 95% sand and 5% armoring. OCTA states the current work is estimated to be around $10 million, and it is “moving forward under emergency authorization from the California Coastal Commission.
Additional Reading
- OCTA Submits Emergency Coastal Develop Permit 4/01
- OCTA Board of Directors Authorizes Emergency Actions for San Clemente 4/17
- Passenger Service Temporarily Suspended as Crews Work in San Clemente 4/28
