The northbound lanes of PCH at Temescal Canyon Road were reopened with little fanfare by 3 p.m. The road had been blocked for 11 hours by trees, bushes and even lawn furniture that tumbled down from the back of someone's home.
LAPD and Caltrans officials believe the landslide occured at around 4 a.m. and was likely caused by dirt that became saturated when a hose was left on too long Wednesday night. Caltrans crews began the cleanup process at about 6:30 a.m. Workers put up six 20,000-pound concrete barriers at the base of the landslide before reopening the highway.
"Glad it wasn't my place. I was just wondering what was happening. I came out the door and there were a couple of guys with cameras all over the place," said Ray Dumais, who lives next to the affected home.
The home in question had a very large tree at the ridge of the landslide area. The tree top was cut down for safety, and the roots were left to help stabilize the soil. Caltrans officials worried the tree would also slide down the hillside. A Caltrans geologist said the tree was hanging by a thread, and a good gust of wind could have toppled it over.
Other homes at the top of the hill were not affected.
The area is known for landslides, with signs posted along the roads. It remains unclear whether the homeowner will be charged for leaving his hose on too long.
