Why California's Pacific Coast Highway Is Falling Apart

✵ Why California's Pacific Coast Highway Is Falling Apart

✵ Today we talk about the Pacific Coast Highway and the situation it has found itself in related to mudslides and geological activities as well as the challenges attached to that.

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[S.C.-wohq]

It's because it's built on a coastal cliff over the ocean.

[DavidPalmer]

1:58 correction - CA Route 1 starts in Dana Point at Interstate 5.

[Will]

PCH is closed nearly every year due to mudslides. I’m 27 and have lived in California my whole life, I’ve only driven down PCH twice due to the constant closures

[StevenEveral]

"Why the PCH is falliing apart"
It's always been falling apart. The one constant along the PCH is some degree of construction. While it does connect all the small communities along the coast and has some amazing views, it's also incredibly impractical.
I driove the stretch between Morro Bay and Monterey about a decade ago and encountered construction slowdowns several times. Despite that, 10/10, would drive it again.

[RobertGrif]

As someone who is from this area, I'd say you did an excellent job describing the problem and why it's a perennial issue out here.

[wze]

This is the kind of content I subscribed for

[wavemaster]

Just finished a road trip on the Pacific Coast Highway, it was still amazing despite the Big Sur section being closed. Hope they fix the road soon!

[itsnotme]

Closures on the PCH are just part of living/working/visiting the area because of all the things you said. Spot on! But the road is SOO important to tourism and the beauty of the area....CalTrans has NO choice but to keep repairing/upgrading the road...or the residents, even those who have never been on the PCH, will start voting people out of office.
Having driven the entirety of the PCH....it's worth a visit...but please don't try to do it in 2 days. LOL I've made 2 different trips of a week each on it. Preferably in a convertible if you can! But if you're afraid of driving on the edge....maybe to South to North? Cool video!

[countrytom]

As a former Bay Area resident, having lived there for 30 years, I’ve been down Highway 1 many times, especially in the Devil’s Slide area south of Pacifica and Half Moon Bay. They had talk of building a tunnel that would bypass that area, but I don’t know if that actually came to fruition. You should do a video on the effect the current wildfires in the LA area are affecting the major arteries there.

[adjudicator]

The highway is beautiful but terribly impractical.

[jamani]

Wonderful video! I was lucky to drive the PCH on a portion near San Francisco many years ago

[jpack]

I've driven PCH from its southern terminus to San Francisco. It was glorious!

[RooiGevaar]

That Big Sur stretch was included in American Truck Simulator. There was an event in 2018 to make that virtual stretch driveable again. :D (it had been driveable anyway, albeit difficult to drive through).

[clayortex]

The pacific coast highway wasn't completed until the bridge at Astoria was finished in 1966

[baystated]

Maybe every repair job should also include the construction of a non-booth overhead toll-gantry.

[sams]

Omg you are 74k, I swear I just looked at it recently and it was like 24k. Well done

[noobiumbaconate]

cliffs + ocean + fault + highway = inevitable fail

[cannabisflame]

actually CA State Route 1 starts in Dana Point. Not SD

[bb]

I have driven through Big Sur several times including staying at a cabin there one year. That time left an amazing memory by me having breakfast at the local store/restaurant above the clouds looking down at the coast. It’s a bucket list worthy experience.

[FatManWalking]

it would be interesting to have a discussion on the I-40 and other US routes being rebuilt in the Smokeys