MSN News Alert—January 21, 2009

Snarls Due to Midday PCH Lane Closure Make Locals Snarly

The Monday-through-Friday—from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.—closure of one westbound lane of Pacific Coast Highway from Jan. 21 until Feb. 27 in the Cross Creek area—approximately from Serra Road to west of the Malibu Lumberyard site—did not start out auspiciously.

On first day of the lane closure to accommodate work on the city-owned property that will house an upscale mini-mall complex, commuters reported delays of from 15 minutes to 30 minutes, with some drivers saying they had to sit on the Malibu Creek bridge for much of that time.

If there are any significant rainstorms while the work is in progress, traffic observers say more serious snafus could result.

                                                               —Anne Soble