Motorists left stranded after part of scenic highway collapses in storm
Motorists were left stranded after part of a famous route collapsed during an Easter weekend storm, forcing road closures.
The collapse occurred amid heavy rain on Saturday afternoon on California’s Highway 1, sending chunks of asphalt tumbling into the ocean.
The highway was closed in both directions in the mountainous area of California’s central coast as engineers assessed the damage, according to the state Department of Transportation.
Around noon on Sunday, crews had determined that travel in the northbound lane was safe, and authorities began periodically escorting motorists around the damaged section.
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 had slept in their cars overnight while others sheltered at the nearby Big Sur Lodge, the newspaper said.
Caltrans spokesperson Kevin Drabinski has urged people to avoid the area.
The famous route has seen frequent closures because of collapses, mud flows and rockslides during severe weather.
The area near the collapse is along California’s Big Sur, which is popular among tourists.
County spokesman Nicholas Pasculli said: ‘We’re hoping we can get all the visitors out today. That’s our hope. That’s our goal. Suffice it to say, it’s a holiday weekend. You know, this area is a beautiful area, and people like to come visit.’
Photos showed the rock slide – part of which included the road – crumbling into the surf below.
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