Greener Living

These Roads Aren’t Built for Wilder Weather Driven by Climate Change

Important motorways across the world weren’t designed to withstand more extreme temperatures and rainfall.

Highway One after a portion of the road collapsed into the Pacific Ocean in Monterey County, California, in March 2024.

Source: Caltrans/Getty Images
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California’s Highway One, stretching more than 650 miles along the Pacific Coast, is one of America’s most popular roadways because of its breathtaking views. Yet, since 2023, large chunks of it have been closed.

That year, a series of atmospheric rivers pummeled the state with rain, triggering landslides and rockslides that the iconic thoroughfare wasn’t built to withstand.