Storm damage repairs along East Cliff Drive

The city of Santa Cruz is working to repair storm damage along a popular walkway near Seabright Beach before the summer crowds come.

The cliff along East Cliff Drive near Third Avenue saw erosion from the recent winter storms, causing some concern.

The city is working to replace part of the sidewalk and move it about 4 feet away from the cliff. The city is also replacing the guardrail with a more pedestrian-friendly handrail.

The project will cost about $275,000 and is expected to be done by May 31.

Residents in the area said it’s not ideal to have construction in the neighborhood, but the work needs to be done.

“We spend a lot of time down there. It was getting to the point that it was gonna fall down by itself if they didn’t do something,” said resident John Thomas.

Santa Cruz City Senior Civil Engineer Steve Wolfman said, “it really will look a lot better and be a lot easier to maneuver for pedestrians and we’re going to improve the staircase a little bit so that’ll be great and this is a great local spot that a lot of people access the beach from.”

Part of the project is being funded by the Federal Emergency Management Agency and funds from the Road Repair Accountability Act of 2017, also known as the gas tax or Senate Bill 1 will cover the rest.