Large Crack Opens in Bluff Below PCH Near Crystal Cove, Closing a Southbound Lane
A fracture in the bluff at El Morro prompted a Tuesday lane closure on Pacific Coast Highway just north of Laguna Beach. Officials warned the closure could last well beyond the next several days.
Drivers heading south on Pacific Coast Highway near Crystal Cove faced a closed lane on Tuesday after a large crack opened in the coastal bluff below the road at El Morro, just north of Laguna Beach.
The crack is at El Morro, between Laguna Beach and Newport Beach, near Crystal Cove State Park. Aerial and broadcast video showed a long fracture running along the bluff near the edge of the roadway, with erosion visible on the slope facing the ocean.
Laguna Beach local Blair Conklin documented the damage in a new video. He estimated the crack comes "about 10 feet away from the road" and warned that the affected part of the cliff could fall in the coming days.
Caltrans crews inspected the area on Tuesday to assess the damage and what repairs might be needed. Reports said it was not immediately clear when the crack formed or how long repairs might take.
FOX LA reported a city statement noting that the affected stretch is outside city limits and under Caltrans jurisdiction, and that city staff are in close contact with Caltrans and California State Parks. MyNewsLA also reported that Laguna Beach officials warned motorists to allow additional travel time and said the lane closure could extend beyond the next several days, and FOX LA reported the city warning that stabilizing a coastal slope is a complex process.
The crack is the latest damage from days of powerful surf and high tides following Tropical Storm Rachel, which also prompted temporary closures at Crystal Cove and the evacuation of 26 historic cottages there in recent days.
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