Work To Stabilize Metrolink Tracks In South OC Continues

Crews drilling into slope to install ground anchors in San Clemente.

SAN CLEMENTE, CA — Work to stabilize a segment of train track threatened by erosion in San Clemente continued Thursday, the Orange County Transportation Authority reported.

The closure is due to concerns over an unstable cliff in southern San Clemente, Public Affairs Manager of Metrolink Paul Gonzalez told Patch.

Metrolink and Amtrak initially suspended service on Sept. 30, after movement was detected in the area of an old landslide north of the San Diego County border. The area has posed difficulties for transit officials for years.

While both agencies originally predicted a return time of November, they announced Friday that a contract for emergencies repairs had been awarded and that the required work could keep passenger trains out of commission through the end of the year.

As a part of the stabilization project, crews are continuing to install ground anchors into the slope around the track and area expected to begin performance testing the first row as early as Friday, Dec. 2, OCTA said.

Work on the first row is expected to continue from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday this December. Crews are expected to shift to the second row of ground anchors in early Jan. 2023.

Residents living near the construction area should expect noise throughout the construction period.

The stabilization project is anticipated to be finished by Feb. 2023, OCTA said.

To sign up for OCTA project updates, visit the authority’s website.

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