Cliff Drive Resiliency Project
In January 2023, major storm events caused significant erosion along the bluff southwest of Hooper Beach, undermining a retaining wall originally installed in the mid-1990s. Following this damage, the City received approval from Caltrans and the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) to pursue permanent improvements through the Emergency Relief (ER) program.
The Cliff Drive Resiliency Project aims to stabilize the roadway and protect the critical infrastructure it contains, while also improving public access and pedestrian safety along this important coastal segment in Capitola. The project area extends from Wharf Road to the Depot Hill staircase—an arterial roadway serving residents, utility infrastructure, and coastal visitors.
Project Purpose
The primary goal is to stabilize the roadway and safeguard essential underground utilities, which are increasingly at risk due to erosion and storm-related impacts. The project also seeks to improve pedestrian access and safety, while balancing environmental protection and long-term maintenance needs.
Project Goals:
- Stabilize the bluff and preserve the roadway
- Protect buried utilities and critical infrastructure
- Address drainage and shoreline erosion issues
- Improve pedestrian access and safety along Cliff Drive
Project Timeline
- January 2023: Storm damage to bluff and retaining structure
- February 27, 2024: Community workshop on initial concepts
- June 27, 2024: City Council meeting and project update
- 2023–2025: Technical studies and geotechnical evaluations
- 2025: Design and permitting
- August 2025: Community meeting and City Council update (dates and locations TBD)
- 2026: Final design, permitting, and funding
Current Status (as of July 2025)
The project has received initial funding from the Federal Highway Administration’s Emergency Relief (FHWA ER) program, based on damage from the 2022–2023 winter storms. These funds are supporting technical studies, deisgn, and permitting work.
The City is coordinating with the California Coastal Commission and Caltrans to complete necessary environmental review and permitting. Once these processes are complete, the City anticipates requesting additional FHWA funding for construction.
The City is also actively pursuing other funding sources to support final design and construction.
Upcoming Outreach (August 2025)
Public outreach is scheduled for August 2025, including:
- A community meeting to get project update and related lcp updates
- A City Council meeting update on project direction and next steps
Meeting dates and locations will be posted here once confirmed.
Contact & Mailing List
For all inquiries related to this project, please email:
info@cliffdriveresiliency.org (link sends e-mail)
To receive email updates on this project, sign up for the mailing list here: