Santa Cruz’s Iconic West Cliff Drive Reopens After Two-Year Closure, With Eyes on Future Climate Resilience

Santa Cruz, CA – After more than two years of closure and extensive repairs, one of Santa Cruz’s most beloved coastal routes, West Cliff Drive, is officially open to the public again.

The reopening marks a milestone for the city, which faced significant storm damage in January 2023 when 120 feet of the pathway were destroyed, road sections eroded, and a bridge was knocked out by massive waves.

The city’s restoration efforts included installing a new seawall to better protect the area from future storms. Jamie Lamb, a resident living directly across from West Cliff, praised the work but remained cautiously optimistic about its durability. “I’d say 80% confident. I’m not full confidence, no,” Lamb told reporters.

The project has been closely followed by Save West Cliff, a community group co-founded by Santa Cruz resident Al Ramadan.

He emphasized the importance of long-term planning, pointing to the city’s recently approved 50-year vision for West Cliff, which focuses on climate-resilient infrastructure.

“With sea level rise and the increase in these bomb cyclones, this is going to become more and more of an issue,” Ramadan said. “The big question is whether we can disarm these swells before they hit the cliff.”

Discussions are underway about implementing artificial reefs or barrier islands—techniques already in use along the East Coast – to absorb storm surges before they reach vulnerable shorelines.

The January 2023 storms weren’t the only blow to Santa Cruz’s waterfront. In December 2024, the end of the iconic Santa Cruz Wharf collapsed into the ocean.

On Tuesday, the City Council approved $1.5 million for repairs aimed at strengthening the wharf’s structure and improving its climate resilience.

“These improvements will continue the legacy of engineering that has served the Wharf well for over 110 years,” city officials said. Construction is scheduled to begin in November, with completion expected by March 2026.

For now, West Cliff’s reopening is being met with enthusiasm from residents and visitors alike. “Yeah, they’ve done a nice job with it,” one local said. “We’ll see how long it holds up through the next big storm.”

The city will host a ribbon-cutting ceremony to celebrate the completion of the project, marking not only the return of a treasured public space but also the start of a broader conversation on how Santa Cruz can adapt to a future of more frequent and intense coastal storms.

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