03 June, 2017
The highway had already been closed as crews were working to fix damage from an earlier landslide; no injuries were reported.
A portion of the Pacific Coast Highway, considered by some to be one of the most scenic drives in the United States, was buried by a massive landslide, the California Department of Transportation said.
Part of central California's scenic Highway 1 is now buried under about 40 feet of mud and rock after a landslide struck over the weekend, officials said Tuesday. Highway 1 was already closed to fix buckled pavement caused by an earlier slide.
The agency's spokeswoman, Susana Cruz, told the San Luis Obispo Tribune it is the largest known mudslide in the state's history.
The Big Sur portion of State Route 1 is designated as a National Scenic Byway for its spectacular coastal vistas and is famed as one of the longest stretches of largely undeveloped shoreline in the continental United States.
And it's not just one slide, either, Caltrans said.
One of the most picturesque US roads, Route 1 follows most of the California coast and is known for dramatic views, including where it crosses the Golden Gate Bridge. "Millions tons of rock/dirt, about 1/3 mile of roadway covered 35-40 feet deep".
There is no indication yet of how long it will take to fix Highway 1, whose scenic views are a major tourist draw to the area.
Even before the weekend damage, the state had closed the Highway 1 along Mud Creek to fix buckled pavement and remove debris after an earlier slide.
In March, a stretch of the highway near Big Sur was shut down after the Pfeiffer Canyon Bridge collapsed, spelling economic disaster for the region that heavily relies on tourism.
"I think it's safe to say it will be several months before it reopens", Jones said by phone.
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