PCH Reopens After Mudslide In Pacific Palisades
PACIFIC PALISADES (CBSLA.com) — The northbound lanes of Pacific Coast Highway reopened Thursday afternoon after a massive, hours-long cleanup of a mudslide near Temescal Canyon in Pacific Palisades.
The slide occurred just below a mobile home park just before 5 a.m., Los Angeles police said. Dirt, debris and lawn furniture from one of the mobile homes could be seen on the roadway, which reopened at about 3 p.m.
Resident Ana Gamaza, who lives inside the mobile home park, said she was shocked to see a gaping hole during her morning walk.
"I can see the garden furniture on the road, pretty scary," she said.
Officials believe the slide may be attributed to a garden hose that was left on overnight.
"The fire department told us someone left a hose on, and I talked to the resident and the resident doesn't know anything about it," mobile home park manager Jerry Curry said.
Caltrans called in a geologist after being concerned a mobile home may be compromised.
"Talking to our geologist, it doesn't appear to be any further movement on this landslide right here. But you know, there is no indication that the structures themselves can slide down the hillside," Patrick Chandler from Caltrans said.
Caltrans officials told KNX 1070's Pete Demetriou the primary issue now is dealing with a 40-feet tree that could come down the hill.
Mudslide On PCH
"So our geologist consulted with the homeowner's geologist to cut the tree down to a stump to keep the root-system in there to stabilize the soil so there's no additional sliding," Chandler said.
Caltrans workers hauled 28 truckloads of dirt and mud away from the road and also cut down a tree. Guard rails were placed alongside the road at the scene of the slide.
