State Route 58 has been cleared and repaired in order to reopen the highway to the public, the California Department of Transportation and the California Highway Patrol announced. The scheduled time of reopening is 8 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 21, officials said.
State Route 58 was closed Thursday, Oct. 15, due to a major mudslide located between Cameron Road overcrossing and post mile 166. It was discovered that approximately 1.5 miles of roadway was covered in 5 to 6 feet of mud.
A total of 78 passenger vehicles, two buses, 36 trucks, one recreational vehicle and one travel trailer were stuck in the mud, officials said. Emergency personnel were able to safely remove all travelers and move them to emergency shelters.
Caltrans crews began clearing the mud and debris that evening and Granite Construction of Bakersfield was brought on with an emergency contract to assist in the cleanup.
Since Thursday evening, workers have cleared and hauled off approximately 75,000 cubic yards of soil, drained standing water, cleaned drainage systems, cleaned and restriped the highway. There were not any injuries or fatalities due to this mudslide on State Route 58.
The storm triggered a flash flood from miles off of Caltrans’ right of way and flowed down the canyons onto State Route 58.
Travelers will see continuing cleanup efforts in the days to come on the shoulders of State Route 58. Motorists are urged to slow down and move over for workers.
For the latest in highway information, visit Caltrans QuickMap site at quickmap.dot.ca.gov or call the Road Condition Hotline at 1-800-427-ROAD (7623).
[Information via news release from the California Highway Patrol.]
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Mary says
I will never forget the devastation this closure caused me. It took me and a million others 15 hours just to get to Sacramento. I left Palmdale at 8:00 AM and got to Sacramento at 11:15 PM. I don’t ever drive far but I know truckers do. I only had to suffer a day but I felt so bad for the truckers I am glad they have alternate routes to drive again. I was never so happy to be home in my life! We went to the Glow Balloon Festival and though the event was worth the 15 hour drive, it took me days to recover from driving. I got home in 6 ½ hours
Greg says
So what exactly was the devastation to you?
How about the man that got washed away in that particular slide? Has he been found yet?
How about the loss of vehicles? Not everyone can afford a new or used one to replace the ones they lost.
Glad you had a nice, if frustrating, trip and that you got home in one piece.