On Pacific Coast Highway, Caltrans' four-year western Malibu repave starts at Malibu Lagoon. Its project page puts the southern limit at Cross Creek Road. That is the Colony's end of the Civic Center. Some coverage called it a western Malibu project, and on a map it is. For the Colony, it starts at the neighborhood's own stretch of road.
Caltrans set Oct. 27, 2026 as the start date. A second, separate project, running from Malibu Creek to Santa Monica, starts in late 2027 and ends just south of Cross Creek Road. Put the two maps together and the Colony sits on the line where they meet. Its stretch of highway is among the first to be worked on, and it will be among the last to be finished.
Where the Western Segment Begins
The Caltrans announcement describes the work as running from Malibu Lagoon to the Ventura County Line, Monday through Friday from 6 a.m. to 3 p.m. At least one lane stays open in each direction while crews are working. Chumo Construction Inc. of Baldwin Park holds the contract. The cost is estimated at $69 million, and the schedule runs from fall 2026 through winter 2029/2030. On the project page, Caltrans says about 63 lane miles will be rehabilitated once this segment is done.
Along with pavement rehabilitation, Caltrans lists ADA curb ramps, guardrail, signage and road technology upgrades, roadway lighting, signal improvements and new striping. In its Oct. 12 report, Malibu.FM said the repaving will bring painted bike lanes and narrower traffic lanes on both sides of the highway, from Santa Monica out to Ventura County. The same outlet said state law requires Caltrans to include bike lanes, crosswalks and other non-vehicle features on all repaving projects in California cities. So the PCH that comes out of this work will be striped differently from the one the Colony has driven for years.
Caltrans also tells residents and businesses nearby to expect noise, vibration and grinding during construction. The agency says the schedule depends on the weather and that all dates and times can change.
The Second Half Arrives in Late 2027
The western project explains only half of the Colony's position. Caltrans' eastern project covers about 57 lane miles from the McClure Tunnel in Santa Monica to just south of Cross Creek Road. It is budgeted at $85 million, with construction scheduled from late 2027 through 2030. Malibu.FM put the eastern work at about three and a half years.
- Fall 2026 into 2027. The western segment, from Malibu Lagoon to the county line, is scheduled for construction. The highway east toward the Pier and Santa Monica is not.
- Late 2027. The eastern project starts, so the Colony has a Caltrans project on both sides.
- The 2028 Olympic Games. Malibu.FM reported that construction will pause during the Games, and Caltrans says the schedules for both projects will be planned around the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
- Winter 2029/2030 to 2030. Caltrans' projected finish dates for the two segments.
Neither job is the PCH safety project. Malibu.FM described that as a separate list of projects Caltrans is still drawing up. The repaves are routine maintenance. Caltrans calls them Capital Preventive Maintenance projects, meant to extend the life of the pavement and improve ride quality.
That makes this winter the one season when the work runs on only one side of the Colony.
The Hours Caltrans Leaves Alone
Caltrans has scheduled the work for weekdays from 6 a.m. to 3 p.m., subject to weather and change. Weekday evenings and all weekend fall outside that window. Much of what has opened or been scheduled around the Civic Center this season keeps hours that line up with that schedule.
Hank's Organic opened in the former PC Greens space at 22601 Pacific Coast Highway and is open every day from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. In its September roundup of new businesses, The Malibu Times reported that Malibu waited more than three years for the family-owned organic grocer and eatery. Permitting, fire delays and other construction issues held up the opening. The paper also reported that the store has two features found nowhere else in Malibu: a pineapple slicing machine and a fresh orange juice machine. Miguel De Alba is general manager. The store sells produce, a hot bar, coffee, smoothies and prepared hot and cold deli meals. Because it closes at 9 p.m., there are six hours after the work crews' 3 p.m. finish.
Malibu Road's Newest Storefronts
On Malibu Road, the most notable recent opening keeps an even narrower schedule. BEAMS, the Japanese clothing and lifestyle brand founded in Harajuku, opened a concept shop at 23710 Malibu Road on Aug. 7. The Malibu Times described it as the brand's first brick-and-mortar store in the United States. BEAMS marked its 50th anniversary in February and has about 165 stores across Japan and Asia. The Malibu shop carries everyday core essentials along with collaborations, including BEAMS' first with Hoka. It is open only on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays, from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., and the phone number is (424) 235-2379. Of its three days, two are entirely free of construction hours.
Farther along Malibu Road, N2 Aesthetics opened at 23841 Malibu Road, Suite 18. The clinic held a ribbon-cutting on Aug. 22, attended by city councilmembers, city staff and members of the Malibu Pacific Palisades Chamber of Commerce. Ollo catered the clinic's "Hot Summer Nights" opening evening.
Cross Creek Ranch and Civic Center Way Through December
The holiday season around the Civic Center runs on the same pattern of evenings and weekends. The City of Malibu's event permit report, printed Nov. 5, lists the season's temporary uses near the Colony.
Start with Cross Creek Ranch Shopping Center at 23465 Civic Center Way. A City planning agenda names Malbon Golf as the tenant of Unit 470 there. The City approved a Malbon Malibu Grand Opening Party there for the evening of Saturday, Nov. 7, from 5 to 8 p.m., which has already passed. The same address is also listed for a Holiday Tree Lighting Event, with a permit pending review.
These are the season's dates from the permit report:
- Nov. 24 to Dec. 24. The 28th Annual Holiday Menorah Display at 23691 Pacific Coast Highway, all day and night. Approved.
- Nov. 27 to Dec. 20. The Annual Christmas tree lot fundraiser at 23575 Civic Center Way, 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Approved.
- Nov. 28 to Jan. 3, 2027. The 63rd Annual Creche Display at 23691 Pacific Coast Highway, all day and night. Approved.
- Saturday, Dec. 5. The Holiday Tree Lighting Event at 23465 Civic Center Way, noon to 8 p.m., with an estimated 400 guests. Permit pending.
The tree lot opens the day after Thanksgiving and stays open until 9 p.m. every day of its run. That covers every weekday evening after the work crews stop. The tree lighting falls on a Saturday, when no repave work is scheduled. For questions about a permitted event, the permit report lists the City's Community Development Department at 310-456-2489, ext. 485, during business hours. After hours and on weekends, it lists the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department at 818-878-1808.
Caltrans posts real-time traffic conditions for the work zone on QuickMap, the agency's live map. It is the place to check lane conditions on PCH between the Colony and the county line before a weekday trip west.
For Colony owners weighing a winter lease, a seasonal stay, or a property that has to be shown while crews work the highway out front, LA Luxuries can plan around the Caltrans schedule, so showings, move-ins and vendor visits fall in the hours the road is clear. Contact Us to start that conversation.
