Multiple landslides in Malibu, surrounding areas close Pacific Coast Highway
Several active landslides closed Pacific Coast Highway in Malibu on Monday morning, and it wasn’t immediately clear when traffic would be able to pass through again as road crews scrambled to move the boulders and debris.
The slides occurred after a series of winter rainstorms drenched Southern California, dumping more than a typical year’s worth of rain on the region in a matter of weeks. The National Weather Service warned about the potential for landslides along the coast earlier this month.
Topanga Canyon Boulevard is closed in both directions between PCH and the community of Topanga, the California Department of Transportation announced in a social media post. Motorists will need to detour around the road east of Malibu, also known as State Route 27, because of the debris blocking the road.
Malibu’s looks to improve safety with a dedicated task force to patrol the roadway over the next year and a half. Meanwhile, the community continues to brainstorm.
A second landslide west of State Route 27 at Big Rock Drive forced the closure of PCH on Sunday evening, the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department announced in a separate news alert. Large boulders landed within a few feet of several vehicles parked near the slide, according to video from OnSceneTV.
On Sunday, an official announced to motorists at the scene over a loudspeaker, “The road is closed. We do not have an ETA. You need to make a U-turn.”
By Monday morning, one lane was reopened at Big Rock Drive to alternate traffic heading west and east, according to the Lost Hills sheriff’s station. Officials advised motorists to avoid the area if possible.
Caltrans road crews are also responding to two additional closures. The northbound lane of PCH near Will Rogers State Beach was closed on Sunday because of a large debris flow, and another slide forced the closure of Corral Canyon Road near Solstice Canyon. There was no estimate for when either slide would be cleared.
More and faster land movement has wreaked havoc across Portuguese Bend on the Palos Verdes Peninsula, where a slow-moving landslide has lurked for decades.
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