Mudslides Close Two City Streets

By Olin Ericksen
Staff Writer

January 12 -- Mudslides and flooding brought on by two massive winter storms caused the closure of two City streets Monday, one of them a major artery in and out of the Santa Monica.

City officials said they will remain closed until further notice.

Mudslides buried parts of the California Incline -- a major thoroughfare to and from the PCH -- and Moomat Ahiko Way Monday, while flooding has reduced traffic to one lane in the McClure tunnel.

While City officials say no one has been injured, the roads' reopening depends on a factor out of their control: The weather.

"There were some slide issues due to the extensive rains, and these roads will be closed until further notice," said Judy Rambeau, the City's spokesperson.

"They'll be closed until at least the end of the week, that is if the rain continues to let up," she said.

Santa Monica's slides were minor compared to other larger, sometimes deadly, slides throughout the region over the last few days. The slides were brought on by weather systems which blew through Southern California, dropping near record amounts of rain.

Though Santa Monica escaped any major damage, according to emergency officials, reports estimate that 27 people are still missing and nearly 18 injured after a mountain collapsed on the small Ventura County community of Los Conchitas Monday.

Slides also caused some houses perched in the Hollywood Hills to come tumbling down over the weekend.

The California Incline connects Pacific Coast Highway and Ocean Avenue at California Avenue, and Moomat Ahiko Way connects Ocean and PCH near the pier.

Motorists are advised to travel on Seventh Street and on Lincoln Avenue to access Pacific Coast Highway, according to Santa Monica Police officials.