California Highway 1, also known as Pacific Coast Highway, is a very popular scenic and commuter route between Ventura and Los Angeles Counties. Recent storms in Southern California during the last couple of weeks have impacted several parts of the road from the southern end of Ventura County through Malibu. Here’s what you need to know about closures on Pacific Coast Highway:

Intense periods of rain, which have recently caused massive flooding throughout SoCal, have saturated the ground on both the mountain and ocean sides of the highway, causing several problems in the driving lanes.

For one, mudslides and fallen boulders have caused temporary lane closures, especially on the northbound side.

Malibu has become infamous over the years for mudslides after heavy rains, as well as parts of the road collapsing due to erosion on the southbound side. This photo shows one such occurrence in 1983. Now, again, the southbound shoulder is experiencing erosion and collapse, resulting in lane closures.

Unfortunately, due to saturation, the danger of collapse, land movement, and falling rocks doesn’t end when one storm does, and with more rain on the way, the City of Malibu recently instituted nightly closures of all lanes, from 6 p.m. to 7 a.m., just north of Malibu, at least until after the next storm.

Malibu Canyon Road, which runs between Pacific Coast Highway and Highway 101 and also a popular route, experienced recent mudslides as well, resulting in a two to three days closure.

There are no quick detours when drivers encounter lane or road closures, so commuters have been advised to check road conditions, closures, and alerts before driving on Pacific Coast Highway.

Caltrans inspectors assess the road each morning to determine safety and decide whether lanes can be opened. An updated map, showing reported lane closures (orange dots and cones) as well as the section subject to nightly closure, can be found on the Caltrans website.

Have you been affected by the road and lane closures on Pacific Coast Highway? Feel free to share your experience with us in the comments. In addition to the Caltrans site, you can also check the City of Malibu Alert Center for current road status.

We definitely want to help keep you informed, but we also want to inspire you with fun adventures, so after you check traffic alerts, be sure to check out our list of some of the best things to do in Southern California this spring!

https://www.onlyinyourstate.com/southern-california/things-to-do-in-spring-socal/