Carlsbad has declared a local emergency to protect a stretch of historic Highway 101 from coastal erosion ahead of a predicted strong El Niño season. Crews plan to begin work next week near Las Encinas Creek, placing four-to-eight-ton boulders and extending an existing rock barrier by about 192 feet. The project is designed to stabilize the bluff below Carlsbad Boulevard and prevent further erosion. The city says inspectors discovered cracks in the shoulder and bike lane earlier this summer, raising concerns about erosion along the heavily traveled route used by drivers, cyclists and pedestrians. Drivers could see intermittent lane closures between Palomar Airport Road and Island Way while the work is underway. The Carlsbad City Council is expected to review and confirm the emergency declaration at its next meeting. City officials say the emergency action is intended to protect the roadway before potentially stronger coastal conditions arrive during the upcoming El Niño season.
