The Los Angeles County Department of Public Works lifted several road closures by 5 p.m. Sunday in the mountain areas north of Castaic that were closed for mud and debris removal after the Oct. 15 storm.
The re-openings are coming well ahead of original forecasts.
The following L.A. County roads are scheduled to re-open Sunday:
- Elizabeth Lake Road from Godde Hill Road to Lake Hughes Road;
- Godde Hill Road from the Palmdale city limit to Elizabeth Lake Road;
- San Francisquito Canyon Road from Elizabeth Lake Road to Dry Gulch Road;
- Bouquet Canyon Road from Elizabeth Lake Road to north of Vasquez Canyon Road;
- Spunky Canyon Road from San Francisquito Canyon Road to Bouquet Canyon Road.
Motorists are cautioned to drive at reduced speeds, as roads might still be covered in mud or water in some affected areas.
Public works crews will continue efforts to re-open Munz Ranch Road between Elizabeth Lake Road and Lancaster Road, and Lake Hughes Road from Elizabeth Lake Road to Dry Gulch.
Workers had a light drizzle to deal with Sunday, but it was nothing like the torrent of rain that caused the original mudslides.
During Thursday’s storm, flooding and mud flows devastated the Lake Hughes and Lake Elizabeth areas, where vehicles were trapped in mud and some houses inundated.
Flooding and mud also damaged homes in Palmdale and Lancaster.
In Kern County, at least 30 vehicles remained stuck in the mud Sunday along state Route 58, according to the state Department of Transportation. Officials hope to have that road re-opened by Thursday.
Los Angeles County Supervisor Mike Antonovich said he will ask his colleagues on Tuesday to declare a state of emergency for the areas of Quartz Hill, Leona Valley, Lake Hughes, Lake Elizabeth and surrounding areas.
— City News Service