West Cliff Drive might be fully open by April as crews put the finishing touches on a number of major projects, including a sea cave that had formed under the roadway and a damaged storm drain farther west on Santa Cruz’s iconic coastal road. City of Santa Cruz Public Works Assistant Director Kevin Crossley told Lookout that the federal funding freeze of last week has not affected work so far, but that the city might need to reevaluate how it frames its projects in applications going forward.
West Cliff Drive’s future
Posted inLatest News
City to reopen part of West Cliff to two-way traffic after nearly two-year closure
The City of Santa Cruz will finally reopen the block of West Cliff Drive between Columbia Street and Woodrow Avenue to two-way traffic on Friday, nearly two years after it was severely damaged due to the deluge of atmospheric rivers in January 2023.
Posted inOpinion from Community Voices
West Cliff’s future depends on unity – surfers have a place in the discussion
Surfers have always been an important partner in the City of Santa Cruz’s climate resiliency planning and have helped shape priorities for West Cliff Drive’s future, writes City Manager Matt Huffaker. He refutes a recent Community Voices piece by surfing community members and warns about the spread of false information that confuses the public and makes it difficult to implement needed change. The city has extensive planning efforts underway, all open to feedback from the community, and he says it’s a great time for the public to get engaged on this important work.
Posted inLatest News
Carmageddon: Some major West Cliff Drive projects to stretch into early 2025
West Cliff Drive repairs continue moving forward as winter draws closer, with several major components expected to wrap up by mid-December. While a few projects will not be finished until early to mid-2025, one-way traffic could make a return along the entirety of Santa Cruz’s coastal road by early spring, and two-way traffic might be only a few months behind.
Posted inOpinion from Community Voices
Santa Cruz is ignoring surfers in city’s climate resilience plan – and it’s missing the top threat to West Cliff Drive
Surfers know the ocean’s tendencies and temperaments better than anyone and should be part of the city’s climate resilience planning process, argue Santa Cruz surfing legends Nat Young, Peter Mel and Anthony Ruffo, along with neighborhood organizer Deborah Maddock Elston. Instead, they are being left out – as are any mention of west swells and bomb cyclones. Here, they push to know why and say the city is not doing enough to plan for a climate-resilient future for West Cliff Drive, the Beach Flats and Santa Cruz surf culture.
Posted inRecreation & Sports
The value of a wave: Can Santa Cruz surfing be saved from climate change?
Climate change threatens the existence of more than 30 of Santa Cruz’s most popular surf breaks. To protect waves before they disappear, Save the Waves Coalition, Black Surf Santa Cruz and Integral Consulting are assessing the economic value of the area’s surf breaks and surfing culture with a new study that could make the case for prioritizing surfing in climate resilience planning.
Posted inLatest News
Carmageddon: Amid West Cliff Drive overhaul, city begins to plan next 5 years
More than 50 residents gathered at London Nelson Community Center last Monday to review and provide feedback on potential projects for the next five years along Santa Cruz’s West Cliff Drive as well as the work that is currently underway. The potential efforts range from strengthening transportation and parking to monitoring and protecting the coastline and its ecosystems.
Posted inLatest News
Carmageddon: As West Cliff repairs continue, crews call scale of work ‘unprecedented’
A project area tour of West Cliff Drive showed the progress that crews are making on major storm repairs as winter draws closer yet again — and highlights the “unprecedented” amount of work happening on the scenic coastal road.
Posted inPolitics & Policy
West Cliff: Santa Cruz hopes to turn 50-year vision into 5-year plan
The City of Santa Cruz is seeking public input at three upcoming community meetings as it develops a “five-year roadmap” for West Cliff Drive that aligns with a “50-Year Community Vision” unveiled earlier this year.
Posted inLatest News
Carmageddon: Portions of West Cliff Drive will remain closed through end of year as major repairs continue
Work is still underway to repair multiple sections of West Cliff Drive following 2023 and 2024 winter storms. While several are expected to be completed by the end of the year, other more complicated work — including a potential road relocation along Lighthouse Field — is likely to be a two-year process.
