Caltrans is rebuilding Pacific Coast Highway through Malibu as two separate projects, with two budgets, two schedules and two sets of limits. The dividing point is Cross Creek Road, in the Civic Center that the Malibu Colony gate at Webb Way opens onto. The western project was scheduled to break ground on Oct. 27, 2026, and runs out to the Ventura County line. The eastern project ends just south of Cross Creek Road and runs to the McClure Tunnel in Santa Monica, with construction planned from late 2027 through 2030. Most stretches of this coast sit inside one of these projects. The Civic Center sits between the two.
The scale explains why it's being done this way. Malibu.FM reported that this is the first modernization of most of the highway's layout since PCH was widened to four lanes in 1947. Until 2010 the road was repaved about every 10 years, and most of it has now gone 16 years without new pavement.
Where one contract ends and the next begins
Caltrans gives the western project's eastern limit as Malibu Lagoon in its construction announcement and as Cross Creek Road on its project page. Malibu.FM described the dividing line as the Malibu Creek Bridge. West of it, the work runs to the county line near Neptune's Net. East of it, the work runs down to the tunnel in Santa Monica.
| Western project | Eastern project | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits | Cross Creek Road / Malibu Lagoon to the LA–Ventura county line | McClure Tunnel to just south of Cross Creek Road |
| Lane miles | About 63 | About 57 |
| Cost | $69 million | $85 million |
| Construction | Fall 2026 to winter 2029/2030 | Late 2027 through 2030 |
Chumo Construction Inc. of Baldwin Park is the contractor on the western project. Together, the two projects cover 120.6 lane miles of PCH at a programmed cost of about $154 million. The two construction windows overlap from late 2027 into 2030. During that stretch, a drive west from the Civic Center toward Pepperdine and Point Dume heads into one contract's work zones, and a drive east toward Carbon Beach and Santa Monica heads into the other's.
What the western crews are there to do
Caltrans classifies both jobs as Capital Preventive Maintenance projects. Their main purpose is to extend the life of the pavement and improve the ride. They are separate from the longer-range PCH Master Plan, which Caltrans describes as its long-term safety effort. Repaving still changes the road you drive. Caltrans lists this scope for both projects:
- Pavement rehabilitation, including grinding and repaving the full width of the roadway
- Upgraded ADA curb ramps and guardrails
- Better lighting at various points
- New sidewalks at multiple bus stops
- Updated signage and pedestrian warning signs
- Class II bike lanes and new striping at various locations
The bike lanes are required by law. Malibu.FM noted that the state legislature requires Caltrans to add bike lanes, crosswalks and other non-vehicle features to every repaving project in California cities. The outlet also reported that traffic lanes will be narrower on both sides of the highway from Santa Monica to Ventura County. On the western segment, center medians are being narrowed while the pavement is ground down and replaced.
The first signs went up at Pepperdine
The weekend before the start date, construction-zone signs appeared along the highway. Malibu.FM reported that work appeared set to begin at Pepperdine University, where shoulder-closure signs stood covered in black plastic until Oct. 27. According to the same report, Caltrans plans a new sidewalk there on a narrow strip of state highway right-of-way, a place where people already walk along PCH, including visitors who park to see the 9/11 flags.
Malibu Canyon Road, at Pepperdine, is one of three intersections near the Colony that are named in the project's planned scope.
What's planned at Cross Creek, Webb Way and Malibu Canyon
A December 2023 Caltrans fact sheet posted by the City of Malibu lists Cross Creek Road, Webb Way and Malibu Canyon Road among the PCH intersections planned for crosswalk restriping or modifications. Caltrans' broader scope also includes ADA curb ramps at signals, lighting and signal improvements, and new striping.
On the eastern side, a June 10, 2024 City Council report describes that project as running to 0.2 mile south of Cross Creek Road. Its scope includes pavement rehabilitation, ADA curb ramp upgrades, concrete bus pads, and Class II bike lanes where feasible. That leaves a short gap between the two contracts at Cross Creek Road.
The calendar
- Oct. 27, 2026. The western project's scheduled start. Caltrans set work for Monday through Friday, 6 a.m. to 3 p.m., weather permitting, with all dates and times subject to change.
- Late 2027. Construction on the eastern project is planned to begin, between the McClure Tunnel and just south of Cross Creek Road.
- Summer 2028. Caltrans says both schedules will be planned around the Olympic and Paralympic Games so construction doesn't affect events or tourism. Malibu.FM reported that construction will be put on hold during the Games.
- Winter 2029/2030. The western project's scheduled completion, according to the Caltrans construction announcement.
- Late 2030. The eastern project's anticipated completion.
How the work zones operate
Caltrans says PCH won't fully close for either project. At least one lane will stay open in each direction, with flaggers, traffic control and reduced speed limits in the work zones. For the western project, the agency still tells drivers to expect delays and strongly advises alternate routes. It also warns that homes and businesses near active segments may get noise, vibration and grinding.
The western project's 6 a.m. to 3 p.m. weekday hours cover the morning and midday, including trips west toward Pepperdine and Point Dume. Detours will appear on changeable message signs ahead of closures. Caltrans posts live conditions on QuickMap and alerts on its District 7 X and Instagram accounts.
Caltrans expects minimal disruption to bus service and says it will announce any stops that are temporarily moved. Since new sidewalks at bus stops are part of the scope, the stops near the Civic Center signals are among the spots where those announcements are worth watching.
If you're weighing timing on a Colony property and want to know how the Webb Way corridor fits into your plans, Sandro Dazzan and The Agency's Malibu team follow these projects block by block and can walk you through the details. Book a Private Consultation.
