Northbound lanes on Highway 1 in Santa Cruz to remain closed ahead of storms

Transit officials said northbound State Route 1 in Santa Cruz will remain fully closed through Tuesday morning or possibly longer.

The closure will allow crews to remove trees and other debris that have accumulated against the the bridge on Highway 1 where it crosses the San Lorenzo River, Caltrans said on Twitter. Officials have already deployed a crane to start clearing up the area, but said more time may be needed to get the job fully done.

The northbound lanes of #Hwy1 in Santa Cruz will remain closed overnight as crews continue to remove trees and other materials which have accumulated against the bridge on Hwy. 1 where it crosses the San Lorenzo River. Update to follow Tuesday morning. pic.twitter.com/Dld8FmiCyL

— Caltrans District 5 (@CaltransD5) January 3, 2023

Officials are cleaning up the area ahead of atmospheric river conditions that are expected to bring severe rainstorms and high winds to the Bay Area, potentially causing flooding, mudslides and property damage. Residents are urged to prepare ahead of time and avoid road travel during the storms, which are expected to land on Wednesday and continue throughout the week.