Highway One Shut Down by Falling Rocks

Falling rocks and dirt caused big problems this weekend for drivers on Highway 1 in Monterey County where two separate slides blocked the scenic highway.
 
One slide happened about 17 miles north from the Monterey County -- San Luis Obispo County line.  A second one happened about ten miles north that.

Suffice it to say that driving up from Southern California on the coastal route was a bad idea this weekend.

The California Department of Transportation provided escorts so people could get through the area, but at a snails pace.

Drivers headed south reported waits of up to two hours.
 
There was no immediate word when the road will reopen in both directions.

A rock slide also caused problems in Northern California near the Humboldt-Siskiyou County line.  The rocks shut down both directions of Highway 96.  The slide happened during heavy rains.  The downpour was a big enough threat that officials closed 96 ahead of the slide as a precaution. Because the road was closed, no one was hurt.
     
California Department of Transportation spokeswoman Julie East says an estimated 40,000 cubic yards, or 2,000 truck loads, of rock fell on to the road near the community of Orleans Saturday morning. Highway 96 connects to Interstate 5.

Copyright AP - Associated Press
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