California Launches a Highway 1 Task Force Ahead of El Niño Storms

A conglomeration of factors is threatening California's famed Pacific Coast Highway. Here is a look at what is causing this worrisome erosion and what action government officials are taking to stymie the impact.

Climate-Driven Impacts Accelerating Beach Erosion, Putting PCH at Risk

A combination of king tides, potent storms, and a Kelvin wave is threatening the infrastructure of California's winding Pacific Coast Highway (PCH). Rain is forecast to exacerbate the cracks beneath the highway that runs right along the coast. The high waves are chipping away at a protective coastal bluff beneath the PCH just as the rain is targeting the cracks, prompting government leaders to take action to preserve the route.

The primary area of concern is located near Laguna Beach in Southern California. According to Caltrans, a crack measuring almost 400 feet and 2 feet wide was identified near Crystal Cove. Crews began working on the cracks earlier in October.

The damage has forced the PCH to narrow to one lane in each direction between Reef Point Drive and Irvine Cove Drive. This work has slowed traffic to 25 mph along the critical route. Laguna Beach Mayor Mark Orgill said that it was "very important" to repair the road and have it open. Orgill noted that there are only three ways in and out of the beach community, making each route important.

California Gov. Gavin Newsom has launched an initiative to bolster preparations along the PCH in advance of the potential El Niño storms. Forecasters have been warning for months that California is likely to experience a battering of storms this winter as a Super El Niño drives the weather across the U.S.