Massive Crack Under PCH Draws Concern Across Coast: 5 Things To Know

LAGUNA BEACH, CA — A massive crack forming beneath a stretch of Pacific Coast Highway in Orange County sparked concern across the region Tuesday.

The cliffside fracture was spotted in the bluff below the iconic highway near El Morro, just north of Laguna Beach, after weeks of heavy surf, high tides and hurricane-driven swells tore into the already battered coastline.

The presence of the crack was originally reported by Skid Kids, a Youtube channel that documents surf culture and beaches in Southern California and beyond.

The video, published the evening of Monday, Oct. 12, shows a deep crack cutting through the cliffside just beneath the road. Brown, churned-up water crashed below as the bluff visibly erodes.

Conklin estimated that the crack is roughly 10 feet from the road that sees thousands of cars every day.

"The cliff side right here this close to PCH is falling... that's why all this water is so brown," Laguna Beach resident Blair Conklin, who shot the video, told Surfer. "They just closed part of one lane on PCH, and my guess is because the cliff is eroding so bad, it might be at risk of having part of PCH crumble into the ocean."

Here's five things to know about the current erosion situation unfolding on Coast Highway.

The Crack Is In Unincorporated Orange County Territory

The stretch of Pacific Coast Highway currently impacted by the crack is located near Crystal Cove State Beach, just a few miles away from Laguna and Newport Beach.

According to Laguna Beach city officials, the area is managed by Caltrans and the California State Parks Department, who will oversee any and all possible repairs.

While the area is just outside Laguna Beach's jurisdiction, city spokesperson Lauren Ezell told Patch that city officials are closely monitoring the situation due to the main-road's importance to local residents.

"The safety of everyone traveling Pacific Coast Highway is our top priority. While this stretch of PCH is outside city limits and under Caltrans' jurisdiction, we know how much Laguna Beach residents rely on it every day," the City of Laguna Beach said in a statement. "City staff are in close contact with Caltrans and California State Parks, and we will keep our community informed about the closure, alternate routes, and Caltrans' plans to address the issue."

Coast Highway Closures Are In Effect

The sighting of the crack spurred Caltrans officials to action, and one southbound lane of PCH was closed between El Morro Canyon and Irvine Cove as a precaution.

Laguna Beach officials warned motorists to allow additional travel time, saying the lane closure could extend beyond the next several days.

To monitor traffic and receive real-time updates regarding Pacific Coast Highway closures, residents can visit Caltrans's website.

In addition, Laguna Beach residents can receive real-time traffic updates by following the city on social media or signing up for traffic notifications through the city's website.

Repairs Will Take A While

It was not immediately clear when the crack formed or how long repairs might take.

According to Laguna Beach city officials, residents should prepare for long-term traffic impacts that may extend beyond single-lane closures.

"Stabilizing a coastal slope is complex," Ezell told Patch. "Residents should plan for the lane closure to last well beyond the next few days."

While a timeline for repairs was not immediately released, a similar situation unfolded just a few years back, when storm and wildfire damage compromised the very same road over 300 miles north of Laguna Beach.

Landslides in Big Sur have infamously shut down Highway 1 for years at a time. Portions of the coastal highway teeter hundreds of feet above the rocky coast, and Caltrans officials deemed a 90-mile stretch of the road unsafe after a 2023 landslide was followed a year later by a cliff collapse that took out a lane near Rocky Creek Bridge.

Stabilization and repair work took years, hampering access to coastal tourist towns. Ultimately, Caltrans placed steel and concrete along the cliff to shore up the highway, allowing it to reopen in January of this year. The upcoming El Nino winter is expected to, once again, test the stability of the cliffside highway.

Waves Are Impacting More Than The Roadways

Crystal Cove State Park — just a short distance from the forming crack — was closed this week, park officials said.

According to park officials, the historic park was closed to the public for repairs incurred by the weekend's powerful swell.

At Crystal Cove Conservancy, 26 historic beachfront cottages were also evacuated as a precaution after officials reported "significant coastal erosion and infrastructure damage."

"We encourage all visitors to exercise caution, remain aware of changing coastal conditions, and follow all posted signs and guidance from California State Parks personnel and lifeguards," the conservancy said in a statement.

In Laguna Beach, Aliso Beach and its respective parking lot was closed due to infrastructure damage incurred by the tropical storm.

Further south, San Onofre State Beach was also temporarily closed as a result of the waves.

Erosion Is Threatening Other Parts Of Coast Highway

In Malibu, high surf forced the closure of an ocean-side lane of Pacific Coast Highway near Thornhill Broome Beach as waves battered the roadway on Monday. Caltrans crews worked to protect the highway from further erosion, placing large boulders along the shoreline and installing protective mesh, ABC 7 reported.

The threat extended beyond the roadway. Malibu officials reported erosion damage at four properties along PCH, while two homes were red-tagged because of compromised foundations. The damage also prompted emergency stabilization work at Paradise Cove Pier, according to The Malibu Times.