800 West Cliff Drive Roadway Realignment Project

In December 2023 and early January 2024, severe wave and storm activity caused significant erosion and collapse of a portion of the multiuse pathway adjacent to 800 West Cliff Drive near Lighthouse Field State Beach. In response, the City of Santa Cruz is proposing the 800 West Cliff Drive Roadway Realignment Project to mitigate ongoing risk to public infrastructure. The project will relocate approximately 600 feet of West Cliff Drive roadway and a corresponding segment of the multiuse pathway approximately 60 and 30 feet inland respectively, moving both out of the 100-year erosion zone and away from the deteriorating scarp now just 21 feet from the current roadway. This realignment is designed to enhance long-term resilience and safety for pedestrians, cyclists, and vehicles by removing the most vulnerable segment of the roadway network. To implement the realignment, the City must secure a right-of-way acquisition from California State Parks, as the proposed inland shift will require land currently under State Parks jurisdiction. The project is forecasted for future procurement, with a posted date of July 1, 2026, indicating it remains in planning and forecasting stages. Primary coordination will be led by Tim Wong, Assistant Engineer II at the City of Santa Cruz, with technical support from Ann Sansevero of Dudek. The project is located in Santa Cruz, California, specifically at the 95060 ZIP code, and will address both immediate safety concerns and future coastal erosion threats through strategic relocation of infrastructure.