Motorists are being urged to avoid California Highway 1 after Easter weekend storms destroyed parts of the scenic route, closing roads and leaving cars stranded near Big Sur.
The collapse occurred Saturday afternoon during heavy rain near the Rocky Creek Bridge, about 27 miles south of Monterey, when chunks of asphalt tumbled from the southbound side of the two-lane road into the ocean.
A highway was closed in both directions in a mountainous region of California's central coast while engineers assessed the damage, the state Department of Transportation (Caltrans) said.
“We are working on a plan to evacuate motorists from the area,” the California Highway Patrol said.
Motorists are urged to avoid Scenic Highway (Caltrans 5th District via AP)
About 300 cars were waiting to head north as authorities led the first convoy through the area, the San Francisco Chronicle reported.
The newspaper said some stranded drivers slept in their cars overnight, while others took shelter at the nearby Big Sur Lodge.
Caltrans spokesman Kevin Drabinsky said regular convoys will be in operation over the next few days as crews shore up other highway closures due to rocks and debris in lanes. He said he would continue. He urged people to avoid the area.
This famous route is frequently closed due to landslides, debris flows, and rock falls during inclement weather.
#highway1 remains closed #Big Sur He fell off the road just south of the Rocky Creek Bridge and ended up on the beach. Convoys will direct essential travelers to the closure area daily at 8am and 4pm. Engineers will observe the situation on site. Workers working to stabilize the edge of the roadway. pic.twitter.com/0AfyOcSIkB
— Caltrans District 5 (@CaltransD5) April 1, 2024
The slow-moving storm brought heavy rain to lower elevations and more than a foot of snow to ski resorts in the Sierra Nevada around Lake Tahoe.
National Weather Service meteorologist Ryan Kittel said the storm was typical for March.
Kittel said the storm left the San Francisco Bay Area on Friday and was “just moving down the California coast,” bringing most of the rainfall to the Los Angeles area.
The storm then rested over Southern California and was expected to remain there until Sunday night or Monday.
Showers and thunderstorms with the potential for lightning and wind damage remain possible in parts of Santa Barbara, Ventura, and Los Angeles counties.