UPDATE ON collapsed access road into POINT DUME BEACH PARKING LOT
November 16, 2021 - Los Angeles County Beaches and Harbors has reopened the newly reconstructed access road leading from Westward Beach Rd into the Point Dume Beach parking lot in Malibu. Restrooms 1 and 3 are open to the public. Construction continues on restroom 2 with chemical toilets available at that location. On Saturday, August 21, after being eroded for more than a month, the access road that extends from the end of Westward Beach Road into the Point Dume parking lot collapsed. A segment of the road was completely destroyed after sustaining heavy damage and erosion from extremely high tides and high surf.
Update on City of Malibu’s Response to the Collapsed Access Road into Point Dume Beach Parking Lot – September 2, 2021
On Saturday, August 21, after being eroded for more than a month, the access road that extends from the end of Westward Beach Road into the Point Dume parking lot collapsed. A segment of the road was completely destroyed after sustaining heavy damage and erosion from extremely high tides and high surf.
Westward Beach Road and Birdview Avenue remain open. The Point Dume parking lot and restroom buildings are closed due to lack of access and water, with no estimate on when they will reopen, according to Los Angeles County Beaches and Harbors, which operates Westward Beach.
The public is not allowed in the impacted area. An unpaved access road has been created using boulders and aggregate material; however, it is for official use only due to safety concerns posed by the heavy equipment used to expand the access. Beaches and Harbors strongly advises beachgoers to not attempt to pass through the road closure to access Point Dume from the west. Changeable message signs will be placed to inform the public of the closures.
Beaches and Harbors continues to work on the damaged roadway, placing boulders and rebuilding the roadway for temporary access. This work is anticipated to be completed in September. After the temporary roadway is completed, they will begin working on the permanent roadway to restore access for two-way traffic.
The City’s Public Works Department has been working in coordination with County Beaches and Harbors and the LA County Sheriff’s Department to develop a plan for ensuring that the washout of Point Dume Access Road does not result in Point Dume residents being inundated with tourists seeking to get to Westward Beach through residential neighborhoods.
State Parks has temporarily closed the trail from Point Dume Headlands to Westward Beach and will continue to have staff present on the Point Dume Headlands with stronger presence focused over Labor Day weekend to protect the natural resources and provide parking enforcement in the surrounding neighborhood.
The Sheriff’s Department is aware of the situation and will continue to patrol the area, including over Labor Day Weekend. The Sheriff’s Department urges members of the public to report any safety concerns to the Malibu - Lost Hills Sheriff’s Station at 310-456-6652.
The Malibu Public Works Department will have a maintenance crew working over Labor Day weekend picking up trash and debris, and providing additional support to Beaches and Harbors as needed.