The California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) has re-evaluated the three mud slides across nine miles between Las Posas Road and Yerba Buena Road on Pacific Coast Highway and has determined that the highway could open to all motorists by late Thursday, Dec. 4.
To re-open the highway, repair crews will unpin and remove concrete barriers (K-rails) to remove mud and debris trapped in the debris basins. Debris and mud will spill across the highway when the K-rails are removed. Crews will then clear drain inlets and wash away mud on the highway.
On Sunday, Nov. 30, heavy rains along the PCH caused mud and debris washed down from the May 2013 Springs Fire burn area to slide across and block the highway.
Caltrans said the mud and debris quickly filled debris basins, blocked storm drains, and spilled over the K-rails in three places between Las Posas Road and Yerba Buena Road. There were no reports of injured motorists and there has been no damage to the pavement.
Union Engineering Inc. of Ventura, California was awarded this $2 million emergency repair contract.
Motorists should continue to consider alternate routes and visit quickmap.dot.ca.gov for traffic conditions.
