Palisades Street Closures on January 7 Could Impact Traffic

Evacuation was nearly impossible at Palisades Drive and Sunset Boulevard, with the result of people having to leave their cars and flee on foot to the Gladstones parking lot.

It is estimated that as many as 2,000 people, including residents and local and national media may descend on Pacific Palisades on the one-year anniversary of the Palisades Fire. There will be street closures and people should allow extra time for parking.

The numerous events at the center of the village start as early as 8 a.m. and continue until about 1 p.m. Roads most likely will be shut off sooner than 8 a.m. (As soon as this editor receives the exact timing the story will be updated.)

Sunset Boulevard from Monument to Temescal may be closed for part of the day on January 7. Also closed, will be Swarthmore from Bowdoin to Sunset.

La Cruz will be shut between Swarthmore and Sunset for an outdoor screen that people can watch from the street in front of Ronald Reagan American Legion Post 283. (Note that means one won’t be able to drive down Alma Real to connect to La Cruz.)

Antioch Street between the Village Green (Swarthmore) and Haverford will be closed for the “Let It Burn” rally.

People who have homes under construction  in the village area might tell their general contractor that it would be a good day not to have people come to work.

Councilmember Traci Park has suggested that people park at the Palisades Rec Center, the Alphabet Streets or on Temescal.

(Editor’s note: and if people have to sit in long lines of traffic and are unable to move, it’ll be another reminder of the January 7 Fire and the lack of an evacuation plan and why density in Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zones  needs to be discouraged.)

The Blue star is the location of many of the events. The green dots are recommended parking sites. The map is courtesy of Councilmember Traci Park’s office.