Bike Path Repair Underway Since February 2024

The bridge for bikers was closed after it collapsed and fell into an estuary that flows into the ocean in February 2024.

Many may remember that L.A. County Supervisor Lindsey Horvath opened the newly constructed .6-mile path of the Marvin Braude Bike Trail in May 2023 at a ceremony held by Will Rogers Beach Lifeguard Headquarters. According to L.A. County, the total cost of that completed project was $6.5 million.

L.A. County supervisor Lindsey Horvath opened the bike path in May 2023

Less than two years later, in February 2024, part of the bridge collapsed during heavy rains.

Eight months later, resident Sharon Kilbride reached Hovath’s office to ask how the repairs were coming. Horvath’s field deputy responded that they were waiting for Coastal Commission before repairing the existing bridge. “Hopefully we’ll be starting before the summer so it will be ready for next summer and will be there for many more summers to come.”

Then in February 2025, the remainder of the bike path collapsed during heavy rains.

Three months later, CTN reached out to Horvath’s office about the repairs and Kerjon Lee, chief communications director for Los Angeles Public Works. “The damage occurred during a federally declared disaster (the winter storms),” he said. “This makes the repair of the bridge eligible for funding by FEMA.

“Project managers from Los Angeles County Public Works believe they are close to securing the final agency approvals needed to begin work on the Marvin Braude Bike Trail at Will Rogers State Beach,” Lee said. “Construction is expected to begin this summer with project completion set for the fall. The estimated cost of repairs is as much as $4.2 million.”

He was asked, “Was there any investigation down about the cause of the failure of the bridge and the project that cost $6 million?”

Lee said, “It was a combination of the December King Tides and intense February storms. There was no issue with bridge design or flaws in construction.”

It is summer and it appears construction has not started. According to Zachary Gaidzik, Horvath’s field deputy, construction will now start in August and be completed in November. He said the delays stemmed from the Coastal Commission and further erosion.

CTN reached out to the Coastal Commission, which approved the repair of the bike trail in March 2025.

One of the 13 conditions the CC required of the County was that it submit a final Bike Path and Channel Design plan and a Monitoring and Maintenance Plan click here.

The County was also required to submit plans for the design details for both the repair of the bike trail and the channel excavation.

The County’s proposal includes grading within the Santa Monica Channel and installation of 130 linear feet of removeable metal sheet piles on either side of the outlet extending approximately 40 feet south and 90 feet north of the channel outlet. The sheet piles would be driven approximately 40 feet below grade and rise to approximately 10 feet above grade and are proposed to be covered on either side by excavated sand from the channel.

CTN will be there on August 1 to see the beginning of the bike path construction.