City Shores Up Bluffs Damaged in 1994 Storms

It was nearly two years ago that a barrage of powerful winter storms left the north end of town a mess, causing the near destruction of the bluffs under the Colony Cove neighborhood.

Now, the city is busy repairing the damage and giving that stretch of the highway under the bluffs a face-lift at the same time.

Over the next year, workers will stabilize 1,000 feet of the Colony Cove bluffs to prevent further erosion. They will also widen the stretch of road under the bluffs--near where Pacific Coast Highway becomes El Camino Real--to four lanes, with a bike path and sidewalk on either side, complete with landscaping and trees.

To Marion Linnert, one of the Colony Cove residents whose home is perched precariously on the edge of the cliff, the construction crew and bulldozers couldn’t be more welcome.

“I was just devastated to think that anything could happen to my home,” Linnert said of the erosion that threatens her house. “I’m holding to the faith.”

Construction workers and field engineers now are scaling the 100-foot cliff, inserting as many as 300 24-foot “soil nails” into the ground under the homes. The nails are needed to prevent further erosion, explained field technician Forrest West.

Later, workers will spray concrete onto the face of the entire cliff, and then mold, shape and sculpt it to make it look like the natural dirt contours of a bluff.

“Things are on track, weather permitting,” said Handan Cirit, principle civil engineer, who added that the work should be completed by December 1996.

Until then, city officials are asking motorists to pay special attention when traveling through that stretch of road. Because the highway has been narrowed, the work there has created a traffic hazard for bicyclists who regularly enjoy the road’s breathtaking views of the ocean.

“It’s a dangerous situation,” said Mike Sorg, public works director, adding that motorists should follow the 25-mph speed limit posted there. “We would prefer not to have bicycle riders here, but found that we did not have a good alternative route.”

The $5.2-million project is funded by the Federal Highway Administration and the State Office of Emergency Services, with the city supplementing money.