SANTA CRUZ COUNTY, CA — Police officials are asking drivers are asked to avoid Highway 17 between Scotts Valley and the Santa Clara County line this morning. The California Highway Patrol has closed the road due in both directions, according to the Scotts Valley Police Department Facebook page.
While personnel from the California Division of Occupational Safety and Health approved work to continue, a Caltrans engineer said that it was too unsafe to start work on the unstable hill.
Crews will be tracking movement in the area into the afternoon and will reevaluate the situation, CHP Officer Trista Drake said. One worker was killed and one was injured after they were hit by a truck while working on the highway on Thursday afternoon.
There is no estimated time for reopening.
Full hard closure between @CaltransD5 Santa Cruz County and @CaltransD4 SCL County for HWY 17 both directions until further notice.
— Caltrans District 4 (@CaltransD4) February 10, 2017
Update: Landslide on CA-17 Between Summit Rd (Los Gatos) and Granite Creek Rd (Scotts Valley). All Lanes Closed.https://t.co/ITRwoLsl4h
— 511 SF Bay (@511SFBay) February 10, 2017
Highway 17 closed in BOTH directions due to unstable hillside. Take alternate route pic.twitter.com/2DIGZghduN
— CHP Santa Cruz (@CHPscrz) February 10, 2017
Track road closures with CHP, Caltrans, or Santa Cruz County Public Works.
