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

Coastal Rail Emergency Project – Area 3

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.

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

Passenger Rail Service through San Clemente Update

Amtrak Pacific Surfliner intends to safely resume passenger service through San Clemente on Monday, Sept. 14. Metrolink will continue to operate as far south as the Laguna Niguel/Mission Viejo Station due to ongoing concerns that wave-related impacts to the signal system could cause significant delays. To avoid potentially lengthy delays for passengers, Metrolink plans to resume full service through San Clemente as soon as Tuesday, Sept. 15, provided conditions remain safe for rail operations.

Passengers are encouraged to check Metrolink Alerts and Pacific Surfliner Travel Advisories for the latest service information before traveling and for updates about potential service updates.

If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to contact our team at 888-791-9924 or railimprovements@octa.net.

Construction Activities

Work to restore the San Clemente Beach Trail and access at the Mariposa Channel continues with irrigation and landscaping, trail surface improvements, and site cleanup throughout the project area. Landscaping activities are expected to continue through October.

Beach Access During Construction

For the safety of the public and construction crews, the project area between El Portal and Linda Lane remains closed.

Community members are encouraged to use the designated beach access routes and not enter the active construction area.

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 Fall 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

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Construction Alert

September 11, 2026

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Construction Alert

September 4, 2026

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Construction Alert

August 28, 2026

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Construction Alert

August 21, 2026

Photo Gallery

Pedestrian trail and cable rail fence installation progress 9/11/26

Aerial view of pedestrian bridge and Mariposa Access Channel 9/11/26

Crews installing protective cable rail fence posts along the new pedestrian trail 9/4/26

Aerial view of ongoing trail restoration and project improvements 9/04/26

Aerial view of pedestrian bridge construction progress 8/27/26

Crews constructing protective fence post 8/27/26

Aerial view of the Mariposa Channel and pedestrian bridge 8/21/26

Crews pouring concrete 8/21/26

Pedestrian bridge concrete placement progress 8/14/26

Aerial view of the Mariposa Channel and catment wall 8/14/26

Pedestrian bridge concrete placement progress 8/14/26

Aerial view of the Mariposa Channel and verdura wall 8/7/26

Concrete pouring activities 8/7/26

Aerial view of current Mariposa Channel construction progress 7/31/26

Crews working on drainage installation activities 7/31/26

Steel beam placement for the pedestrian bridge structure 7/24/26

Aerial view of completed catchment wall and verdura wall construction 7/24/26

Placement of pedestrian bridge structure 7/17/26

Aerial view of catchment wall and verdura wall 7/17/26

Aerial view of verdura and catchment walls 7/10/26

Foundation of Mariposa Channel Pedestrian Bridge 7/10/26

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