Malibu Stringer

Roundabouts are Probably Coming to PCH

Caltrans' controversial plan moved one step closer to reality this week.

Holly Bieler · June 19, 2026

Roundabouts are Probably Coming to PCH

Roundabouts, long a rarity on the PCH, are [coming to west Malibu](https://elink249.stringermalibu.com/ss/c/u001.FV8v5slwHxflUot6dr80avbRdYyHdqKQbki26ikWg-_-eiywRwJjtNxhGBxeL9sekiSxLkniMriswFHWg5gdqXS3kcDS2Ser8l6aY6GLPF3SJzYkx03P4-KtrgkWQfu5rEMAmbzGxoZEFLibS2XnHM1ZerAqdfRiHERA-T9XNfbSDWsjy5zG8imTJqnf8AakQtbUr2qGODf01XuMXR6Gs_Ox4uhE52rCGquo1ZKsJZxgfeScOxu7D2TiFSZz4Vq9Af-sOn8id2MCBcxNHwbTsnpOQ-ooINqiJbBiutXwMstcE61PzJirxOcdjWUejTzwZ5X2eUHMrmGJOmOYh1P3o574Hu0Lae4XGnGGVJ5ruXU/4rn/sjAtPyFWRGi9dbzMc8M-Rg/h0/h001.xOEYK0IApsJg9V2Uyn7qy8Ce6dAh7ufuf5FmYTDJim8), after a delayed CalTrans proposal was approved by the Coastal Commission this week.

The project is slated to [drastically transform](https://elink249.stringermalibu.com/ss/c/u001.lktKMIf2AOmHa3l5pD-9dgFR9RW4cO7es8VODjmhahRwNlwjq3ymTwM-1ahe2MqLPQo23vrwSrZf7hzZWVi4qDhUP3Kz7iF8ZZSi-xLPefC9bFP4eRXpi8-vJP9-oC2KUQj9iTqQRN0gLOliQOBuTe99Qyke81qj4IuAsOcozxu2gY8uu6GaUQdVLC5_09OeYSYnnozMOd7JkDMXcr0uBjN5Vi9IV3___3m3XMR5JMDVGZATz-2UoIbTDB7oFo_K/4rn/sjAtPyFWRGi9dbzMc8M-Rg/h1/h001.elGNcoSz8CUzJ3BquD7fikRbj9Oy0wy7yYcTh_B_mLI) a 1.5-mile-long stretch of PCH along El Matador State Beach, one of the city’s busiest tourist attractions.

The roundabouts, set to be located at Encinal Canyon Rd. and the El Matador Beach parking entrance, will reduce PCH from five lanes to two in some areas, and decrease speed limits from 55 MPH to 25 MPH.

Caltrans has said the roundabouts could decrease pedestrian and traffic collisions in the accident-prone area by 35-40%.

It’s unclear when the roundabouts will be constructed, though the proposal calls for a [speedy construction time,](https://elink249.stringermalibu.com/ss/c/u001.HXiLlpKF7NDHMp-4eUHWME1jxW3yHFEtfx_mzBEZ_gj3glwhXt4R-W1_7EPU4eS8-H3IyeZnkHu4eXiOJ7CHKLX03S0KyoLAz8TyCOshjxwXKf5zfbfwO3aGVUEfZL5xY7qespeIB2YcRRwoK03GsZOr5AfGMjvYCq0jSyMeNoFlFKNBV0jCEzGl9_KDa2rq4rNUuS0TRJHlgHMWR6mGcBwdy8fHy-QKje3ajZZm9eAcWw8joZWxH9g9-V0rZm8hFURd6VShelogJmDn_VKItVPYvS3bLiByFlwzp4VBxHZ4qajPmwP6VU3j5sR0QoOO8m9f4S24u_8zhmMIE4EwO5wBjWe43e1E2l-lUymQP6AiUWiY1uhJmYi-YoIW8Ivycv4dumVwuXXA-6-8S9Ok9T2cCHK-yi9KmnGd2fuMeLXw7C5uFZ9KlVk5fCQ8CmWh/4rn/sjAtPyFWRGi9dbzMc8M-Rg/h2/h001.E_HTw26TRTxeSaQO0NfDNpEaziQDnZbJtrEKF1F6EF0) of 90 days. Once installed, they will be two of only a handful of roundabouts on PCH in Southern California.

The project has been met with some pushback since it was introduced last year. Some residents have voiced concerns the roundabouts could cause traffic jams, and an [initial proposal was rejected](https://elink249.stringermalibu.com/ss/c/u001.HXiLlpKF7NDHMp-4eUHWMB_5YKLSz7k7S8Q98kFR5PnLTqY6dqwcvozJA8tkzJlET7hAQhUACb5Cn344ItHh6XjzOXkbJGABvmkYrnH70Fi2xLofZq6UOsqjIEQ7uumZ78VcAL-WTPyfAgPLm3sSGOXHbKQLuMkoNzWvmJbfOuxri6PqW0ow7HriyHcaX8nj1QGyPJKEaOViUANhYf9NvCq-RmLudA4qWEJxNXfnkKRzDW9eW1j3C0-X03xVlr_Q/4rn/sjAtPyFWRGi9dbzMc8M-Rg/h3/h001.9KQZrqqlOUli2EbxrKSMOFID-Wz6UfMwwRbow01EBPY) by the Malibu City Council earlier this year.