KTLA

Pacific Coast Highway partially reopens in Malibu after mudslide

A section of Pacific Coast Highway that was forced to close after a mudslide has partially reopened Thursday morning.

The highway was closed in both directions Wednesday from Latigo Canyon Road to Corral Canyon Road, Caltrans District 7 posted on X, formerly Twitter.

After working overnight, crews reopened both southbound lanes and one northbound lane around 6 a.m. Thursday.

The northbound lane closest to the cliff will remain closed for a few more days, possibly until Monday after another storm passes through the area.

The massive slide Wednesday covered the roadway and left large boulders exposed on the edge of a cliff.

A section of PCH in Malibu is seen on Feb. 21, 2024, following a mudslide. (KTLA)

Malibu resident Nicole Humphreys was driving on PCH Wednesday when she saw piles of mud come crashing down.

“It’s been really intense … I was disappointed because I’d like to go through but walking through I’m like, ‘Oh, this makes a lot of sense.’ They definitely needed to close that road,” Humphreys said. 

Crews cleared the mud with heavy machinery and used a cherry picker and hand tools to break rock and mud away from the cliff.

Crews used a cherry picker and hand tools to break rock and mud away from the cliff. (KTLA)

Caltrans trucks were seen slowly escorting small groups of cars through the closure on Wednesday.

Meanwhile, Caltrans is dealing with a second closure on Malibu Canyon Road.

The scenic road that provides a crucial pathway to Pepperdine University could be shut down for several days after a mudslide Wednesday.

The slide closed Malibu Canyon Road in both directions between Piuma and Francisco Ranch roads.