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.

Upcoming Absolute Work Window (AWW) Saturday, Sept. 12 through Sunday, Sept. 13

What: Crews are expected to remove the temporary K-rail barriers adjacent to the rail right of way. Construction equipment and the barriers will be transported via rail.

Construction activities will occur during an Absolute Work Window (AWW), when regular train service is suspended to safely and efficiently allow crews to perform work within the rail corridor.

When: Saturday, Sept. 12, through Sunday, Sept. 13

This work may be loud. Residents may hear construction equipment and crane operations throughout the work window. The schedule is subject to change due to inclement weather or unforeseen operational issues.

Construction Activities

Crews are continuing construction of the verdura wall and pedestrian access at the Mariposa Channel. Activities include grading of the slopes and pedestrian trail, installation of the handrail along the new trail, and final maintenance and finishing work at the pedestrian bridge.

In early September, crews are expected to begin irrigation and landscaping through the project area.

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.

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PDF

Construction Alert

August 21, 2026

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Construction Alert

August 14, 2026

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Construction Alert

August 7, 2026

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Construction Alert

July 31, 2026

Photo Gallery

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