Over the weekend, a significant event occurred along the picturesque California Big Sur coast as a section of roadway succumbed to the ocean below following a cliff collapse, labeled as a “slip out” by authorities.
As a consequence of this incident, a segment of Highway 1 now remains inaccessible, as reported in an update from Caltrans District 5 on Sunday evening.
Due to safety concerns, all state parks in the affected vicinity of Big Sur have been closed indefinitely, as stated in an announcement issued by the California Department of Parks and Recreation.
Caltrans District 5 has arranged for essential travelers in the area to safely pass through the affected section. A convoy system will guide them through the temporarily closed portion of the highway. This arrangement will continue in the coming days as repair and stabilization efforts progress, as confirmed by the Monterey County Sheriff’s Office.
Part of famous California highway falls into the ocean (Credits: AP News)
According to the National Weather Service (NWS) San Francisco Bay Area, the landslide incident occurred at approximately 4 p.m. local time on Saturday, underscoring the unpredictable nature of coastal erosion and geological events.
Affected parks include Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park, Andrew Molera State Park, Limekiln State Park, Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park, and Point Sur State Historic Park, as outlined in a release from California State Parks.
Furthermore, individuals with camping reservations within these parks will receive refunds as a result of the closures, reflecting the commitment to ensuring the safety and well-being of visitors amidst the unfolding situation.
