The persistent rains that have been dousing Southern California have once more wrought havoc on the traffic arteries that vein through the region's coastal communities. A mudslide along the Pacific Coast Highway (PCH), induced by rainfall in the Palisades Fire zone, has prompted officials to enforce a closure of the famed roadway, complicating commutes and raising safety concerns.
According to CBS News, with rainfall reaching intensities of 0.60 inches per hour west of the burn scar area on Thursday night, the risk for "mud flows and shallow debris flows" was such that forecasters saw fit to issue a flood advisory. The ensuing slide just north of Big Rock Drive in Malibu was potent enough to see the road closed from Carbon Beach Terrace in Malibu to Chautauqua Boulevard in Santa Monica. The closure affects 11 miles of one of California's most scenic routes, and this disruption follows on the heels of previous shutdowns due to both the Palisades Fire and prior rain events.
Cleanup crews were reported by ABC7 to be working hard to keep the road passable, removing approximately ten truckloads of debris. Despite these efforts, the highway has remained closed for the safety of motorists leading CalTrans to announce, "Mud and debris flows may occur and canyons may overtop, blocking the road or causing further damage."
While PCH may be off-limits to most, FOX LA News noted that essential workers, including first responders, recovery agencies, and utility companies can still gain access to the closure area. Residents who possess the necessary permits will find passage into Pacific Palisades via Chautauqua Boulevard remains open. Safety measures in anticipation of such events had already seen the deployment of 679 feet of K-rail and over 1,500 sandbags in strategic locations to combat runoff and prevent mudslides.
