A portion of scenic Highway 1 in the Big Sur area of California collapsed on Saturday, leaving about 2,000 motorists, mostly tourists, stranded overnight. The collapse occurred near Rocky Creek Bridge, about 17 miles south of Monterey, after torrential rain battered the area.
Officials with the California Department of Transportation announced on Sunday that the southbound section of the highway would remain closed while crews worked on the affected areas. Large chunks of the road fell into the ocean, leading to the closure of the iconic Pacific Coast Highway.
Fortunately, there were no reported injuries from the collapse. Caltrans did not provide an estimate for when the highway would fully reopen. Kevin Drabinski, a Caltrans spokesman, stated that the damage was severe enough to warrant the closure on Saturday afternoon.
Many of the stranded motorists were visitors enjoying the picturesque scenery of Big Sur over the Easter holiday. Some had to sleep in temporary shelters, local accommodations, or even in their cars. The Monterey County Department of Emergency Management organized convoys with police escorts to evacuate people from the affected areas.
Monterey County issued a disaster declaration and urged people to avoid the area to allow for the safe passage of emergency personnel and essential workers. The region experienced unseasonably cold and stormy weather, with rain, flash flooding, and snow affecting parts of California.
This is not the first time Highway 1 has faced challenges due to natural disasters. Last year, winter storms caused landslides that blocked a 20-mile stretch of Big Sur for several weeks. In January 2021, a storm also damaged a section of the highway, leading to closures.
Over the years, landslides have periodically impacted Highway 1, which stretches over 650 miles from Los Angeles to San Francisco. In 2017, a massive landslide added 15 acres of coastline, prompting extensive repairs and reopening a year later. The largest landslide on the highway occurred in 1983 at Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park.
As crews work to repair the collapsed section of Highway 1, officials are focused on ensuring the safety of motorists and residents in the area. Weather forecasters have warned of continued rain and the possibility of thunderstorms, urging people to take precautions.
