Santa Cruz to host an in-person West Cliff update meeting at London Nelson Community Center
SANTA CRUZ, Calif., (KION-TV)- UPDATE ON APRIL 11, 2023 ON 3:10 PM- The City Of Santa Cruz will be hosting a in-person West Cliff Update Community Conversations meeting on April 27.
The in-person meeting will take place at the London Nelson Community Center between 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
The community members are invited to participate in the meeting. Community members will learn more information on data collection, traffic, and revetment projects on West Cliff Drive. City staff, Farallon Strategies, and Save West Cliff will also be there to discuss future planning as well.
If residents want to learn more about the West Cliff Drive project, click here.
City of Santa Cruz to host a webinar for a West Cliff Drive update
UPDATE ON MARCH 15, 2023 AT 3:15 PM- On Thursday, the City of Santa Cruz officials will be having a webinar to update the community on the progress of West Cliff Drive.
The webinar will take place from 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. City officials will be sharing an update on the West Cliff Drive one-way pilot program and traffic calming measures.
Attendees can also participate in a Q&A session with project staff.
The Santa Cruz City Council did approve a pilot program of one way traffic controls on West Cliff Drive during a February 28th City Council meeting.
Most of West Cliff Drive have had temporary traffic controls in place since early January due to the impacts from the winter storms.
If you are interested in attending the Zoom webinar, the link is here.
For more information about the project, click here.
City Council to receive update on West Cliff Drive
UPDATE ON FEB. 27, 2023 AT 5:16 PM: On Tuesday, the Santa Cruz City Council will be receiving an update on the progress of West Cliff Drive.
West Cliff Drive saw chunks of the road collapse into the ocean as a result of the winter storms that took place in early January.
The council will hear an update on citywide West Cliff work and approval of traffic striping and signage for emergency measures on West Cliff Drive.
They will also try and adopt a resolution to appropriate $700,000 from the fiscal year budget towards a resiliency and accessibility project.
The city council meeting will take place at 809 Center Street, Room 10. The meeting will be in person and on Zoom starting at 2:45 p.m.
For more information on the council's agenda click here
Boulders placed on West Cliff Drive for emergency stabilization
The winter storms caused major damage to parts of West Cliff Drive. The City of Santa Cruz added 200 tons of boulders and fabric material to protect the exposed cliff.
The City told KION it’s doing this until it can find a permanent solution.
On Wednesday, many people came out to check out the extent of the damage. Some people said they've never seen it get this bad.
“Makes you reflect on where we put our dwellings, our buildings, and our spaces in regards to the natural world,” said Suzanne Silverglate of Santa Cruz.
Jill Troderman and Silverglate were out for a walk on West Cliff Drive to enjoy the weather. For Troderman, it's the first time she sees the damage.
“Shock cause it's so dramatic to see the damage that occurred,” said Troderman. “It just makes you feel really humbled about being a human and how powerful mother nature is.”
Both have lived in Santa Cruz County for years and have walked along West Cliff Drive many times
Senior Civil Engineer Joshua Spangrud with the city explained how 200-ton boulders and filter fabric would help protect the cliff.
“Instead of the waves having an open course to slam into that side of the bluff with that erodible fill, that will attenuate some of the wave energy,” said Spangrud. “With the filter fabric on the face of the bluff, the hope is that it further attenuates whatever wave energy comes in there.”
The city also set up these barriers, so people don't get too close.
Like changes in the state's climate, the coastline is changing. To combat the new challenges, the Resilient Coast Santa Cruz Initiative was formed, focusing on West Cliff Drive's future.
“Any future use of the road is predicated on the fact that the road is still there,” said Spangrud. “Whatever policy decisions that happen, we have to fix the damages that occurred.”
“For a long, long time, the residents really want to see this more of a green space,” said Silverglate. “We would like to see it have less traffic here, maybe make this into a one-way.”
Just west of Woodrow avenue, there is a 1000-year-old drainage that also suffered damage. That area is closed to traffic indefinitely until crews can repair it.
Public Works said the three areas with huge erosion had already lost parts of their coastal armor. Public works added plans were already in place to repair those spots.
To check out the repair process, click here.
