California's iconic Highway 1 has been hit with yet another setback as a section between Big Sur and Carmel-by-the-Sea had to be closed indefinitely on Saturday. The closure was a result of a portion of the southbound lane collapsing into the sea, leaving a significant chunk missing from the side of the road.

This incident adds to the series of challenges faced by Highway 1, which is still recovering from landslides triggered by last year's heavy rainfall. A 12.1-mile section along the Big Sur coastline was forced to close due to the landslides, and repairs have been ongoing ever since.

Just last week, the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) announced the completion of its design plan to repair Regent's Slide, a major landslide near milepost 27.8 of the highway. However, the approval process is expected to take approximately 30 days. Once approved, the repair work is estimated to take 100 days before the highway can be reopened to traffic.

On Friday night, the closure of the highway was extended an additional 22 miles south to Ragged Point due to new landslide activity near Alder Creek. Fortunately, the area was cleared, and the road was reopened the next morning. However, on Saturday afternoon, further landslide activity extended the closure an additional 30-plus miles to the north, completely cutting off access to Big Sur.

Caltrans managed to reopen a small section of the closed route, enabling traffic flow from Rocky Creek Bridge to just north of Dolan Creek Bridge after assessing the damage caused by the landslides. This closure encompasses three separate slide sites: Regent's Slide, Dolan Point Slide at milepost 29.5, and Paul's Slide at milepost 22.

The repair work at Regent's Slide site will involve the removal of approximately 300,000 cubic yards of dirt, rock, and debris. This is significantly larger compared to the landslides at Dani Creek, Gilbert's, and Mill Creek, which deposited an average of 30,000 cubic yards of material each.

Despite the challenges and delays posed by ongoing rains and shifts in the soil, Caltrans is set to begin preparing the Regent's Slide area for machinery staging this week, depending on favorable weather conditions. However, due to the steep slope and limited access to the site, mobilizing equipment and carrying out repairs efficiently will require drier conditions at the location.

The repair work at Dolan Point is on track for completion by May 1, while repairs at Paul's Slide, which suffered from a significant landslide in January 2023, are projected to be finished by late spring. However, last year's cleanup efforts at Paul's Slide were interrupted by a subsequent landslide, further prolonging the restoration process.

The severity and frequency of landslides have created significant challenges for Highway 1's maintenance and repair efforts. Caltrans continues to work diligently to mitigate the effects of these natural disasters and restore this beloved coastal highway to its former glory.