Workers with the Del Mar Public Works Department have a major job on their hands thanks to the El Niño-fueled storms that drenched the region.
The rain-soaked earth gave way under Camino Del Mar. Southbound lanes were closed on the busy road that connects Torrey Pines State Beach with the city of Del Mar.
"You can't tell from here, but there's basically a cave that's been eroded into the hillside and it extends underneath the roadway," said Eric Minicilli, Del Mar's director of public works.
Minicilli said crews were on the scene as soon as they got word the earth had given away, and have been working feverishly to stabilize the situation.
"The first thing we did was obviously close the road. That eliminated the chance that a sinkhole would develop and we'd lose vehicles down the roadway," Minicilli said.
The bluff collapse did more than threaten the road; important utility lines under the street were at risk.
"This is the area that's undermined. There are three separate utilities back there: a storm drain, a sewer and telecommunications that have to be rerouted," said Garrett White, a construction inspector on the job site.
It could be several weeks before crews can fix the area, because there are complicated engineering and environmental issues to consider.
The repair cost could climb well over $100,000. Del Mar officials said they plan to apply for emergency aid to help pay the bill.
