Video Shows Huge Part Of California Highway Collapsed Into Ocean
By Zuri Anderson
February 4, 2021
A big portion of Highway 1 in California collapsed along the steep coast following heavy rains, and the damage was captured on video, according to the Huffington Post.
The Monterey County Sheriff's Office released the video on Facebook Friday (January 29), which starts with a driver's view riding along the wet roads of the central coast. Then until they come upon the 150-gap in the road near Big Sur. The shot then pans over the gaping, muddy hole, sloping off the coast and into the Pacific Ocean.
The California Department of Transportation said hillside "debris flow" above the highway started Thursday (January 28), which “overwhelmed drainage infrastructure, flowed across the highway and eroded the road, resulting in the complete loss of a segment of Highway 1."
Big Sur, CA- Highway 1 is closed due to debris flow washing a section of roadway out. The area is about 45 miles south of Carmel,CA and known as Rat Creek at mile marker 30. The Big Sur businesses north of this closure are still open and accessible. There are signs along the roadway that say the road is closed well ahead of the washed out area. Additionally, there is debris, flooded highway portions and fallen trees about 10 miles north of Rat Creek and road crews are working on clean up and repair. The area that was most affected by the recent heavy rains was along the Dolan Fire burn scar. Cal-Trans crews are additionally working on cleaning and repairing the southern portion of Hwy 1. Please call the businesses along the Big Sur south coast(Lucia Lodge, Treebones Resort, Gorda Springs)for information regarding their access and hours. Be aware that you cannot travel through Big Sur to Southern California. There are no side roads over the mountains once you past the Carmel area. If you are coming from the south you cannot travel to Northern California. That peculiar road over the mountains has also been closed due to rock fall and tree falls. Google Maps have not updated their navigation system to address the missing portion of roadway. Please follow the direction of the road signs that have been set out, they are your best bet in this “no cell service area”.
Posted by Monterey County Sheriff's Office on Friday, January 29, 2021
The landslide happened about 45 miles south of Carmel. The highway was closed prior due to mudslide concerns, and no one was hurt in the incident.
Reporters said parts of the area saw up to 10 inches in a few days, and the nearby Santa Lucia Mountain got 16 inches from Tuesday (January 26) to Friday. Gov. Gavin Newsom declared a state of emergency for Monterey and San Luis Obispo counties due to the winter storms.
CalTrans Emergency Manager Zeke Dellamas surveys a portion of Highway 1 at Rat Creek that got washed into the Pacific Ocean south of Big Sur, following a rainstorm, Friday, Jan. 29, 2021. @mcweekly pic.twitter.com/1tQsAYPqdp
— Joel Angel Juárez (@jajuarezphoto) January 30, 2021
Photo: Getty Images