Pacific Coast Highway faces collapse risk near Laguna Beach

A massive crack has opened in the bluff below the Pacific Coast Highway (PCH) near Laguna Beach, raising concerns that the iconic coastal road could collapse into the ocean. Caltrans has closed one southbound lane of PCH from Irvine Cove to Reef Point Drive, a stretch adjacent to Crystal Cove State Park, to conduct emergency work.

The fracture was discovered following weeks of heavy surf, high tides, and hurricane-driven swells that have impacted the Southern California coastline. Local resident Blair Conklin reported that the situation appears to be deteriorating rapidly, noting that the crack is located approximately 10 feet from the roadway.

In addition to the highway damage, California State Parks has temporarily closed portions of Crystal Cove State Park and San Onofre State Beach due to infrastructure damage and erosion. At Crystal Cove, 26 historic beachfront cottages were evacuated as a precaution following significant coastal erosion.