Pacific Coast Highway was open to traffic in both directions Wednesday, Jan. 25, afternoon, following extensive cleanup after sea water flooded onto the highway during high tides the previous morning. 

While Caltrans was able to get the northbound lanes open late Tuesday evening, crews continued to scoop soggy sand and debris from the southbound lanes through the first part of Wednesday before being able to open the remaining just after 3 p.m. – just in time for afternoon rush-hour traffic.

Four parking lots and the multi-use trail at Bolsa Chica State Beach will remain closed while workers continue to clean up the mess and determine the extent of damage from the sea water. Cracking of one of the lots has already been found.

The closures mean the loss of 850 parking spots until the lots are determined safe to reopen, said Kevin Pearsall, State Parks Superintendent.

Engineers are expected to come out early next week to assess the stability of the lots, which are concrete built on top of sand, he said.

The parking lots at Bolsa Chica have been closed for three weeks because of the set of swells and storms that battered the area earlier in the month.

Tuesday was the fifth time this month Pacific Coast Highway had flooded, according to Caltrans.

Recent swells and high tides have battered beaches across the California coastline, flooding streets in areas such as nearly Sunset Beach, Newport Beach and Long Beach, ripping wooden piles from the Seal Beach Pier and causing severe erosion to some shorelines.

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