San Francisco, California, faced a major disruption after a section of Highway 1 along the central coast collapsed during a storm over the Easter weekend. This collapse forced closures and stranded motorists near Big Sur, prompting authorities to advise drivers to steer clear of the area.
The incident occurred on Saturday afternoon near Rocky Creek Bridge, about 17 miles south of Monterey, as heavy rain caused chunks of asphalt to tumble into the ocean from one side of the two-lane road. The closure of the highway in both directions in the mountainous region of central California prompted engineers from the state Department of Transportation, also known as Caltrans, to assess the damage.
Efforts were underway to safely evacuate motorists from the affected area, with the California Highway Patrol coordinating the response. By Sunday afternoon, crews determined that travel in the northbound lane was safe, facilitating the periodic escort of motorists around the damaged section. Approximately 300 cars were waiting to proceed northbound, with the first convoy led by officials successfully navigating through the area.
Some stranded motorists had spent the night in their vehicles while others found refuge at the nearby Big Sur Lodge, according to reports. Caltrans spokesperson Kevin Drabinski emphasized the continuation of periodic convoys over the following days as crews worked to stabilize the highway, which had experienced additional closures due to rocks and debris on the lanes. Drabinski advised people to avoid the area given the ongoing challenges faced by the famous route, which has a history of closures during severe weather conditions.
The storm that caused the collapse brought heavy rain to lower elevations and significant snowfall to Sierra Nevada ski resorts around Lake Tahoe. National Weather Service meteorologist Ryan Kittell highlighted that while the system was typical for March, it did not resemble the atmospheric rivers that had battered California in recent winters. The storm had departed from the San Francisco Bay Area and moved down the state’s coast, concentrating most of its rainfall in the Los Angeles region.
Southern California experienced lingering effects from the storm, with showers, potential thunderstorms, lightning, and strong winds forecasted for Santa Barbara, Ventura, and Los Angeles counties through Sunday night or into Monday. The region braced for continued unstable weather conditions as the storm maintained its presence over the area.