Caltrans and LA Ignore PCH Landslide For 60 Years, Will Pay Cyclist $9.1M
Written by 991KBU on September 21, 2018
A landslide that has been creeping onto P C H in Pacific Palisades for 60 years has just cost Caltrans and the City of Los Angeles 9 point 1 million dollars.
A jury yesterday hit the city and state with a judgement because sand … gravel and rocks is allowed to to pile up on the side of the highway.
And it’s been piling up at the Tramanto Landslide since 1958 …. according to historical documents.
The Los Angeles Times reports that Robert Jeffrey Watts was seriously injured four years ago … as he rode toward his home in Topanga Canyon.
Just west of Sunset Boulevard … where the landslide has encroached all the way to the white stripe … White got nailed by the side mirror from a truck
The former camera rental company owner … left with significant amount of brain damage.
The L-A Times calls the 9.1-million dollar judgment one of the largest bicycle-related jury awards in Los Angeles history.
The Tramonto landslide first took out some houses in 1958.
A pile of dirt and rocks has been sitting on the pavement of PCH for at least 30 years.
Maintenance workers testified they avoided touching it.
The city of L-A and Caltrans have plans to widen the road in the area … there has been talk of that for years.
A Caltrans spokeswoman told the L A Times the agency will also look at its options for appeal.
