Emergency Work In Landslide Area Begins

RANCHO PALOS VERDES, CA — Work on the Portuguese Bend Landslide Remediation Emergency Hydraugers Project has begun, Rancho Palos Verdes officials said.

City Councilmembers pushed up the installation of hydraugers in the landslide area after severe rainstorms during the winter caused land movement to accelerate faster than it ever had before. As of April, the land is moving up to nine inches per week according to city Geologist Mike Phipps.

These hydraugers will be used to relieve water pressure underground and lower groundwater levels.

Installation work is expected to cause traffic delays in the Gateway turnout area along Palos Verdes Drive South near the Seaview and Beach Club neighborhoods. Work will take place between the hours of 8 a.m. and 3 p.m. over the next few weeks as equipment and materials are delivered to the site, the city said.

"If you must drive through this area during this time, please proceed slowly, yield to workers and obey traffic control at the site. Thank you for your patience," the city said in a statement.