Caltrans set October 27, 2026 as the start of its paving project on Pacific Coast Highway, from Malibu Lagoon to the Ventura County line. Under the City of Malibu's advisory, crews work 6 a.m. to 3 p.m., Monday through Friday, and at least one lane stays open in each direction. Down at Point Dume, Los Angeles County's shoreline crews keep a similar schedule. Their construction generally runs from 5 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Two separate agencies are running two separate projects, and both stop around 3 p.m. For anyone living between Point Dume and the county line, that shared stopping time matters more than any single lane closure. The highway project alone runs into 2030.
Two crews, one quitting time
The City of Malibu's traffic advisory lists the full scope of the PCH project: pavement, curb ramps, guardrails, signage, lighting, signals and striping. It also warns that noise and vibration are possible and that the schedule depends on the weather. Spectrum News reported Caltrans's announcement and noted that people living and working near the route may hear grinding along with the noise and vibration. Caltrans also says every date and time is subject to change.
The County's job at Point Dume is a different kind of work. Severe erosion damaged the access road between the Westward Beach Road and Birdview Avenue intersection and the Point Dume Beach parking lot. It also damaged the water lines that serve the beach facilities. The Department of Beaches and Harbors has been installing new rock revetments and repairing existing ones along that road.
The two projects have nothing to do with each other, but their hours line up. When both crews are out, both work zones are active until about three o'clock. After that, the highway is free of paving crews and the construction area at Point Dume is quiet. Each day leaves a few hours of afternoon light before sunset, and every weekend is fully outside the paving schedule.
The City's traffic advisory also asks drivers to take care in the work zone:
"Please slow down and watch for workers and work vehicles, and remember fines may be doubled in construction zones."
The same advisory links to Caltrans's QuickMap, which shows live closures and traffic. It's worth checking before a midday run down the coast.
A project measured in winters
Construction alone is scheduled to run about three and a half years. On its project page, Caltrans lays out the timeline for the stretch between Cross Creek Road and the county line:
- Project approval and environmental review: summer 2019 through June 2022
- Design: spring 2022 through winter 2025
- Construction: fall 2026 through spring 2030
The budget is $69 million, and the work will rehabilitate about 63 lane miles. Caltrans plans Class II bike lanes and striping at several locations, new sidewalks at a number of bus stops, better lighting at some points, and pedestrian warning signs. The agency describes the overall aim as extending the life of the pavement and improving ride quality on PCH.
That timeline puts at least three winters of work zones between Trancas and the Civic Center. The eastern end comes later. Caltrans treats the stretch from the McClure Tunnel in Santa Monica to just south of Cross Creek Road as a separate effort, Project II. That one covers about 57 lane miles, and construction is scheduled from late 2027 through 2030. Until then, the paving under this project stays west of the Lagoon. That's the side of town where the morning drive to the grocery store, the beach or the trailhead happens to run through the work zone.
The Malibu Times ran the paving schedule in its late-October weather coverage, along with the same weather caveat Caltrans uses. Rainy days can shift the work, so the 3 p.m. pattern is a dependable rule of thumb, not a guarantee.
Weekday errands that stay close to home
If the highway belongs to the crews until three, the easiest mornings are the ones that don't need much of PCH. Near Zuma, The Sandwich Shop at 30150 Morning View Drive makes sandwiches with bread from local micro-bakeries or baked in-house. The menu includes vegetarian and vegan options and smaller portions for kids. The Malibu Times listed it among the town's new openings in early September.
The shop's hours fit inside the paving schedule almost exactly. According to its website, pickup and delivery run 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., Wednesday through Friday, and sandwich boxes are available 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., Wednesday through Sunday. The shop also announced it would add Saturdays starting November 14, two days from now. On a weekday, lunch from Morning View Drive is a short local stop that keeps you off the longer stretch of highway.
Farther west, Trancas Country Market's directory lists Vintage Grocers and Malibu Brewing Co. among its tenants. For anyone living out toward Broad Beach or the county line, running errands there keeps a trip short. A drive into the Civic Center, by contrast, crosses most of the project area and is easier to save for the afternoon.
Point Dume as whale season begins
The 3 p.m. pattern matters most at Point Dume, because December is coming. California State Parks lists Point Dume as a gray whale viewing spot during the migration, which runs from December to mid-April. The County describes the headland's view across all of Santa Monica Bay, with Catalina visible on a clear day. It also notes a stairway from the east side of the bluff top that leads down to a quieter beach with tide pools.
As of the County's October 30 update, the following restrictions are in place:
- The Point Dume Beach access road, starting at the intersection of Westward Beach Road and Birdview Avenue, is closed to vehicles at all times.
- Pedestrians and cyclists may not enter active construction areas. Construction generally takes place from 5 a.m. to 3 p.m.
- Restrooms 1, 2 and 3 are closed because of damage to the water service. Temporary toilets and handwashing stations are available.
California State Parks also says the beach is still accessible, although you can't drive down to the lower lot. The County's November 2 update says some shoreline protection is complete, more work is underway or planned, and crews are coordinating with the City of Malibu and County Public Works. Plans can change, so check the County's Point Dume Beach page before you go.
The County page also lists Metro Bus 534 at the Cliffside/Dume stop as a way to reach the beach. Put the closed access road and the 5-to-3 construction hours together, and late afternoons become the natural time to watch for whales from the bluff this season.
Weekends sit outside the work schedule
PCH paving happens Monday through Friday, so the weekend is free of it. Several of the City's upcoming events fall on Saturdays or Sundays:
- Saturday, November 14, 9 to 11 a.m.: rain barrel distribution in the upper parking lot at Malibu City Hall.
- Saturday, November 14: Archaeology Day at Malibu Creek State Park. The park also lists a Welcome Walk on November 15. Its page notes that the bridge to the MASH site has been removed and that anyone crossing Malibu Creek does so at their own risk.
- Sunday, November 15, noon to 2 p.m.: a free opening reception for Nancy Wise's "Sea and Stone" exhibition at Malibu City Hall, 23825 Stuart Ranch Road.
- Saturday, December 12, 9 to 11 a.m.: Breakfast With Santa at City Hall, with breakfast, art activities, library story time and photos with Santa.
- Saturday, December 19, 10 a.m. to noon: the free Santa Paws event at Malibu Bluffs Park, 24250 Pacific Coast Highway.
City Hall and Malibu Bluffs Park are both east of the Lagoon, so getting to them from Point Dume or Trancas means driving through the paving zone. On a Saturday morning, that stretch has no paving crews. Weekday trips east go most smoothly after three. Saturday trips can go anytime.
The paving between the Lagoon and the county line will be part of western Malibu's weekdays into 2030. If you'd like to talk about how the PCH timeline fits your own plans for the coming years, from Point Dume to the county line, Cassandra Hepburn is glad to help. Let's Connect.
