PCH reopens in Malibu after storm debris is cleared away

MALIBU — Pacific Coast Highway was open to traffic Tuesday morning after a weekend storm caused a mudslide that prompted the closure of a portion of the road between Malibu and Las Posas Road in Ventura County.

Crews cleared away the mud and debris and reopened the road about 6:30 p.m. Monday, but lane closures should still be expected as work continues to clear drains, according to Caltrans.

Crews are still cleaning mud and debris on PCH, just north of Yerba Buena Rd in Ventura County. Here’s a few photos of some of the mud on the road. pic.twitter.com/VBTZ6SpViI

— Caltrans District 7 (@CaltransDist7) January 7, 2019

Multiple vehicles became trapped in a mudflow about 7:30 p.m. Saturday at PCH and Mulholland Highway, just outside the Malibu city limits, the California Highway Patrol reported. Others were stuck at 7:06 p.m. that night in a mixture of water, mud and rocks on PCH north of Tonga Street, about three miles north of the Los Angeles County line.

The roadway havoc was part of the first winter storm of 2019, which moved into the Southland Saturday night before clearing up Sunday.