BIG SUR — A rockslide forced the closure of a long stretch of Highway 1 on along California’s Central Coast on Wednesday, state highway authorities said.

The closure extended from north of the Ragged Point Inn in San Luis Obispo County up to Gorda in Monterey County, Caltrans spokesperson Jim Shivers said in a social media post.

A photo showed large boulders covering much of the roadway.

Closure Expected to Last a Week

“Rocks above the highway are being assessed by Caltrans with estimates of a one-week closure,” Shivers said.

Highway 1 is a major scenic route for tourists and for San Joaquin Valley motorists traveling north. Ragged Point Inn is about 20 miles north of Hearst Castle at San Simeon.

The slide came two days after a powerful storm hit the state. Past storms have caused significant damage to the road clinging to steep coastal slopes.