Mudslide on Highway 101 in Sausalito causes major traffic delays

A mudslide spilled onto the roadway on Highway 101 in Sausalito early Wednesday, threatening a shutdown of all southbound lanes as crews hatched a plan to remove a large eucalyptus tree that was dangerously close to falling onto the roadway, authorities said.

Rocks, mud and debris fell onto the roadway just after 7 a.m., south of Spencer Avenue, said Officer Andrew Barclay, a California Highway Patrol spokesman.

One southbound lane was shut down during the morning commute as Caltrans crews worked to clear the mudslide.

However, the slide exposed the roots of one of the large eucalyptus trees that line the highway, causing concerns that the strong storm pushing through the region could force the tree to fall, Barclay said.