Capitola to use $10 million dollar grant to enforce Cliff Drive against environmental hazards
Ata Shaheen
CAPITOLA, Calif. (KION-TV) — Capitola is laying the groundwork for future reinforcements to Cliff Drive.
They’ve been trying to bolster the bluffs and roadway ever since a trashing during winter storms in 2023, but there continue to be funding questions.
Capitola’s Cliff Drive, just west of the village, is picturesque but precarious.
There are sea caves that are forming because of wave runoff is causing erosion, and it’s slowly allowing the the bluff to fall,” said Robert Stephens with the Cliff Drive Resilience Rroject, at a Capitola Planning Commission meeting Thursday night.
“Its just primed for something to happen and perhaps real tragically for somebody,” said David Alvis of Capitola, who frequently jogs along Cliff Drive at night.
Last year they came up with installing a concrete wall along the bluff for about a third of a mile.
It would have anchors embedded into the slope to prevent any erosion,” said Stephens.
The Federal Highway Administration awarded Capitola $10.5 million, but that’s not enough to cover the entire plan.
“We’re doing phase one cause we’re funding limited and were gonna do phase two once we find a sugar daddy, and then we’re gonna do phase three,” said Planning Commissioner Paul Estey.
The many people who bike and walk along cliff drive are concerned about danger – not just from mother nature – but also from traffic, with cars, bikes and pedestrians jockeying for space.
“There’s been many times when I’mm really concerned that I hope we all manage to squeeze in there together.”
Capitola says they want to address that down the line.
That includes class one bike lanes, overlooks, a new multi-modal street with bike lanes on both sides and separated pedestrian from the cars” said Herlihy.
She said Capitola will continue applying for grants from an array of different agencies to try and garner funding for the entire resiliency project – which will likely cost tens of millions all together.
And folks like David Alvis who cherish the drive are eager to look after it.
“Anything they do that helps preserve and protect this area, hey count me in, and if you want me to help pour a little cement I’ll be happy to help with that too,” he said.
The timeline has phase one beginning construction in early 2027, but exact details are not yet hammered down.