California's iconic Pacific Coast Highway teeters on the edge of falling into the sea after a terrifying crack appears in cliffside after storm

California 's most famous highway is in need of emergency repairs after a large crack appeared in the cliffside underneath the roadway, raising concerns about a landslide. The deep crack was spotted along the Pacific Coast Highway (PCH) between El Morro Canyon and Irvine Cove on Tuesday. The crack appears to end right near the border of the cliffside and the PCH, causing the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) to shut down the right to traffic to protect drivers, CBS News reported. It is unclear when the lane will reopen, but it is expected to be longer than a few days. 'Stabilizing a coastal slope is complex,' Laguna Beach Communications Manager Laura Ezzell told CBS News. 'Residents should plan for the lane closure to last well beyond the next few days.' Although the crack lies outside of Laguna Beach's jurisdiction, officials are keeping a close eye on the development, as it may affect residents. Caltrans told the Daily Mail that the lane closure will remain in effect until 'repairs are complete.' 'We are currently coordinating with our partners to evaluate current conditions. Caltrans is reviewing updated surveys and drone footage to determine the most effective path forward,' the spokesperson said. A deep crack appeared in the cliffside under the Pacific Coast Highway near Laguna Beach on Tuesday The crack is located between Newport Beach and Laguna Beach The crack is located between Newport Beach and Laguna Beach, ritzy areas where celebrities like late Kobe Bryant's wife Vanessa and Shark Tank's Mark Cuban have homes. It's now causing concerns that it could trigger a landslide, as pieces of dirt have been seen falling into the crashing waters below. 'The cliff side right here this close to PCH is falling… that’s why all this water is so brown,' Laguna Beach resident, Blair Conklin, told Surfer . 'My guess is because the cliff is eroding so bad… it might be at risk of having part of PCH crumble into the ocean.' The crack is believed to have been caused by the bad weather brought on by Tropical Storm Rachel over the weekend and months of powerful waves. Just 40 miles up the coast, the tropical storm battered waterfront properties in Long Beach over the weekend, causing some homes to crash into the sea. The storm tore away at least 30 feet of boardwalk, and flooded coastal towns and cities, including Laguna Beach. Roughly 15- to 20-foot backwash waves breached seawalls and sand dunes, according to Surfer. Just 40 miles up the coast, the tropical storm battered waterfront properties in Long Beach over the weekend The crack is believed to have formed due to harsh waves in the area in recent months. Pictured: Waves hitting a barrier in Laguna Beach during Tropical Storm Rachel last weekend Laguna Beach was flooded after Tropical Storm Rachel 'The ocean is literally in the city right now. I’ve never seen water push this far up into Laguna in my life,' Chris Monroe, who documents things on his YouTube page, said, according to Surfer. The destructive weather was a combination of the high tides, historic surge and tropical storm surge, officials stated. As the El Niño continues to strengthen , other parts of California's coastal line are preparing for a horrific storm season. Caltrans is working to place boulders along State Route 1 in Ventura County to help fortify the roadway. California State Parks also temporarily closed parts of Crystal Cove State Park and San Onofre State Beach due to high surf damage and coastal erosion, KTLA reported. The Daily Mail has reached out to Caltrans for comment.