Sinkhole Opens in Middle of California Highway
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources.
Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content.
Highway 1 in California was partially closed on Sunday after a sinkhole opened up, according to local transportation officials.
Newsweek contacted California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) for additional information via email, outside of standard working hours on Monday.
Why It Matters
Officials warned that the Monday morning commute would be affected as crews worked to repair the road damage caused by the sinkhole.
A sinkhole is an area of ground with no natural external surface drainage. Their size can range from just a few feet to several hundred acres, and depths may span less than a foot to over 100 feet.
Most sinkholes develop gradually, making changes hard to notice, but they can also appear suddenly due to a collapse, according to the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS).
What To Know
According to Caltrans, the sinkhole formed on southbound Highway 1 on Sunday near Buena Vista Drive.
The highway's far-left lane was closed following the incident, California Highway Patrol (CHP) said on Sunday, adding that drivers should expect delays in the area and that there was no estimated time for reopening.
Southbound traffic was limited to a single lane roughly half a mile north of Watsonville, according to the Santa Cruz Sentinel.
In an update, CHP said the road's left lane would stay shut down through Sunday night.
Images posted to social media by Caltrans District 5, which serves Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo, Monterey, San Benito, and Santa Cruz counties, showed crews working to repair damage caused to the road by the sinkhole.
Images show crews working to repair the road on June 1 in California.
Images show crews working to repair the road on June 1 in California.
Caltrans
What People Are Saying
California Highway Patrol wrote on X, formerly Twitter, on Sunday: "A sinkhole has formed on SB SR-1 southbound near Buena Vista Drive. The far left lane is closed. Expect delays in the area, with no estimated time for reopening."
Caltrans District 5 wrote on X on Sunday: "Ongoing closure of the #1 (left) lane of southbound Hwy. 1 at Buena Vista Dr. near Freedom to remain in effect during morning commute hours on Monday, June 2. Please allow extra travel time thru the corridor. Crews continue with repairs to a sinkhole which formed on Sunday 6/1."
It also said: "Travelers on Southbound Hwy. 1 in Santa Cruz County near Freedom will encounter a closure of the #1 (left) lane at Buena Vista Dr. for emergency road repairs. No estimate for reopening. Please be alert for crews and emergency responders."
What Happens Next?
Caltrans said the closure would remain in effect through morning commute hours on Monday. Travelers were advised to allow extra time to travel through the corridor.
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