Coastal Rail Emergency Project – Area 3 - Orange County Transportation Authority

Construction started September 2025 and is expected to last through Summer 2026.

Project Details

The Coastal Rail Emergency Project – Area 3 is constructing a 1,400-foot-long catchment wall on the bluff side of the tracks at Mariposa Point. The wall will extend from the El Portal Beach access point to Linda Lane. The San Clemente Pedestrian Beach Trail will also be restored as part of this project.

Construction work hours are Monday through Saturday from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m.

The schedule is subject to change due to inclement weather or unforeseen operational issues.

Construction Activities

Holiday Schedule

In observance of Independence Day, no construction activities are scheduled on Friday, July 3 and Saturday, July 4. The San Clemente Pedestrian Beach Trail between the North Beach parking lot and El Portal will be open to the public throughout the holiday weekend. Work will resume on Monday, July 6.

The project team wishes everyone a happy and safe Fourth of July!

Work at the Mariposa Channel Continues

Work is continuing at the Mariposa Channel on the new pedestrian access bridge and the supporting infrastructure. Activities include concrete pours, drainage and utility work, and construction of abutments, retaining walls and stairs.

Daytime delivery of the Mariposa Channel pedestrian bridge superstructure is scheduled for Monday, July 13. The superstructure is expected to be delivered via truck through Linda Lane with no road closures anticipated.

This work may be loud. The schedule is subject to change due to inclement weather or unforeseen operational issues.

San Clemente Beach Trail

The San Clemente Beach Trail will be closed from the North Beach parking lot to El Portal during work hours but will reopen at the end of each workday and will be open on Sundays. The trail will be closed from El Portal to Linda Lane until project completion.

As part of the Coastal Rail Emergency Project, the San Clemente Beach Trail is being restored and is expected to reopen to the public upon project completion in Summer 2026. For additional information about the trail improvements and project features, check out our Trail Benefits Flyer.

san clemente beach trail

Rendering of San Clemente Beach Trail

Beach Access

The Mariposa underpass is closed. Beach access at Dije Court and El Portal are temporarily closed to ensure the safety of the public. The public can still access the beach using the El Portal beach underpass and the Linda Lane beach underpass.

View our interactive map for current beach access closures and detour routes.

Staging Areas

Contractors are staging equipment and materials in the North Beach parking lot and on a city-owned vacant lot at the corner of Avenida Estacion and Calle Deshecha.

Stay Connected

To receive weekly email communications about the project, sign up here.

PDF

Construction Alert

July 2, 2026

PDF

Construction Alert

June 26, 2026

PDF

Construction Alert

June 19, 2026

PDF

Construction Alert

June 12, 2026

Photo Gallery

Aerial view of Mariposa Channel 7/2/26

Crews constructing the Mariposa Channel pedestrian access 7/2/26

Aerial view of Mariposa Channel access construction progress 6/26/26

Crews constructing the Mariposa Channel pedestrian access 6/26/26

Crews working on Mariposa Channel access 6/18/26

Aerial view of current conditions at Mariposa Channel access wall 6/18/26

Aerial views of completed structural shotcrete for catchment wall 6/12/26

Crews working on bridge construction activities 6/12/26

Aerial view of work activities at the Mariposa channel 6/4/26

Crews working on bridge construction activities 6/4/26

Aerial view of Mariposa bridge construction activities 5/29/26

Crews working on the bridge at the Mariposa Channel 5/29/26

Aerial view of Mariposa bridge construction activities 5/22/26

Crews performing excavation operations 5/22/26

Catchment wall shotcrete placement activities 5/15/26

Crews performing drilling operations on Mariposa bridge 5/15/26

Catchment wall shotcrete placement activities 5/11/26

Crews performing rebar installation work 5/11/26

Catchment wall lagging and verdura wall construction activities 5/1/26

Crews performing utility work 5/1/26

Catchment wall wood lagging installation 4/24/26

Verdura wall construction activities 4/24/26

Verdura wall construction activities 4/17/26

Aerial view of the catchment wall 4/10/26

Construction of the verdura wall 4/10/26

Catchment Wall Progress 4/3/26

Wood lagging installation 4/3/26

Catchment Wall 3/27/26

Steel beam installation 3/27/26

Catchment Wall 3/20/26

Slope excavation and drainage installation 3/20/26

Catchment Wall 3/13/26

Utility and Drainage Connection 3/16/26

Catchment Wall 3/6/26

Excavation and Pile Installation 3/6/26

Catchment Wall

Excavation and Beam Installation

Catchment Wall

Fence Installation

Catchment Wall

Steel Beam and Rebar Installation

Catchment Wall

Steel Beam and Rebar

Shoring and catchment wall

Pile Installation activity

Drill rig and steel beams

Steel beams installed for the catchment wall

Rebar cages delivered to the project site

Drilling operations

Rebar cages

Installing steel piles

Drilling operations

Coastal Rail Emergency Projects