Vehicles evacuated around collapsed California Highway 1 section
- Chunks of California’s Highway 1 collapsed during Easter weekend storm
- Officials shut down highway, evacuated motorists around damaged section
- Authorities urge people to avoid the area
This photo provided by Caltrans shows a damaged section of Highway 1, Sunday, March 31, 2024, south of Rocky Creek Bridge in Big Sur, Calif. Authorities urged motorists to avoid the scenic highway after a section of the coastal route collapsed during an Easter weekend storm, forcing closures and stranding motorists near Big Sur, authorities said. (Caltrans District 5 via AP)
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(NewsNation) — Motorists are urged to avoid a stretch of California Highway 1 after a section collapsed during an Easter weekend storm, shutting down the road. The highway remains closed Monday as crews work to stabilize the two-lane road.
Heavy rain Saturday near Rocky Creek Bridge, about 17 miles south of Monterey, caused a section to collapse, sending chunks of asphalt tumbling into the ocean from the southbound side of the road, the Associated Press reports. Additionally, the damage stranded motorists near Big Sur, authorities said.
The California Department of Transportation said the highway was closed in both directions in the mountainous area of California’s central coast as engineers assessed the damage.
On Sunday, crews determined it was safe to travel in the northbound lane, and authorities periodically escorted motorists around the damaged area. About 300 cars were waiting to travel northbound when officials led the first convoy through the area, the San Francisco Chronicle reported.
Some stranded motorists slept in their cars overnight, while others were sheltered at the nearby Big Sur Lodge, the newspaper said.
Caltrans officials said periodic convoys would continue as crews clean up the highway over the coming days. Motorists are urged to avoid the area.
The highway had other closures due to rocks and debris in lanes, according to the Associated Press. It’s prone to closures due to collapses, mudflows and rockslides during severe weather.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
