Land Movement Update

Ski Jump Update

At last night’s meeting, the City Council considered options for the repair and maintenance of the “ski jump” — the steep section of Palos Verdes Drive South between Narcissa and Peppertree Drives that frequently cracks due to accelerated land movement. 

The ski jump was most recently repaved yesterday. Roadwork is scheduled to continue on Palos Verdes Drive South in the landslide area next week on July 22-26, from approximately 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. daily. Expect delays.

The ski jump spans two sub-slides of the Portuguese Bend Landslide Complex that are pulling apart from each other and moving at different speeds, resulting in a recurring large crack running across the roadway. While the west side of the ski jump is rising at a rate of about 1.4 feet per year, the east side is subsiding at about 1.5 feet per year.

A graph showing the vertical displacement of the west and east sides of the ski jump is shown below.

Council previously directed City staff to research the possibility of completely regrading the ski jump using innovative materials such as geofoam blocks. However, at last night’s meeting, after hearing staff’s analysis that this work would likely exceed $5 million, necessitate roadway closures for several weeks, and require significant maintenance due to the risk of the ski jump continuing to pull apart, the Council decided against regrading the ski jump. 

Instead, the City will continue to regularly perform asphalt repairs while exploring additional engineering strategies and awaiting landslide mitigation measures to significantly slow the landslide movement. This work is now expected to cost $500,000 to $1 million over the course of a year.

A roadway closure to bicycles, motorcycles, and all other two-wheeled vehicles remains in effect on Palos Verdes Drive South from Wayfarers Chapel to Schooner Drive for public safety due to the poor condition of the roadway. The Council is expected to revisit this prohibition in December and consider whether to lift or extend it.

The Council is scheduled to receive its next comprehensive landslide update and consider renewing the City’s local emergency declaration on August 20.