05 – Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo, Monterey, San Benito, and Santa Cruz Counties
Contact:
Kevin Drabinski or Alexa Bertola
Phone:
(805) 549-3138 or (805) 549-3237
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
UPDATE: HIGHWAY 1 REOPENED NEAR CARMEL
AS TREES AND WIRES CLEARED
MONTEREY COUNTY –Highway 1 has reopened between Spindrift Road in Carmel and Andrew Molera State Park after crews cleared multiple trees and removed down power lines.
Road information and updates can also be found on Caltrans District 5 Social Media platforms: Twitter at: @CaltransD5, Facebook at: Caltrans Central Coast (District 5) and Instagram at: Caltrans_D5.
05 – Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo, Monterey, San Benito, and Santa Cruz Counties
Contact:
Kevin Drabinski or Alexa Bertola
Phone:
(805) 549-3138 or (805) 549-3237
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
FULL OVERNIGHT CLOSURE OF HIGHWAY 1 IN EFFECT NEAR CARMEL
DUE TO DOWNED TREES AND WIRES
MONTEREY COUNTY –A full overnight closure of Highway 1 is in effect due storm damage that has resulted in downed trees and power lines.
Highway 1 will remain closed overnight between Spindrift Road in Carmel and Andrew Molera State Park.
This is a hard closure and is expected to last overnight. Downed trees and power lines pose a significant risk. Strong winds in the area continue to be a concern. Crews will be working overnight, and an update will be provided as soon as the roadway reopens.
Road information and updates can also be found on Caltrans District 5 Social Media platforms: Twitter at: @CaltransD5, Facebook at: Caltrans Central Coast (District 5) and Instagram at: Caltrans_D5.
05 – Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo, Monterey, San Benito, and Santa Cruz Counties
Contact:
Kevin Drabinski or Alexa Bertola
Phone:
(805) 549-3138 or (805) 549-3237
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
UPDATE #1
CLOSURE STILL IN PLACE ON HIGHWAY 1
DUE TO PÁJARO FLOODING
MONTEREY / SANTA CRUZ COUNTIES – Highway 1 remains closed from Salinas Road, one mile south the Monterey/Santa Cruz County line, to Hwy. 129 (Riverside Drive) in Watsonville in Santa Cruz County. There is no estimated time for reopening.
Water from the Pájaro River breached a levee 4.7 miles upstream of Highway 1. Flooding from this breach overflowed the highway on Sunday March 12 which led to its closure. Water from this breach continues to be of concern as it surrounds Highway 1 and the bridges at the Pájaro River.
Highway 1 crosses the Pájaro River by means of two bridges, one in the northbound and one in the southbound direction. As they cross the river, the bridges pass over two levee embankments, one to the south on the Monterey County side, and one on the Santa Cruz County side of the river. The Pájaro River flows between these two levee embankments.
Water flow from the upstream levee breach has eroded embankment material around the bridge supports exposing foundation piles.
The Pájaro River Bridges are stable. The bridge supports at this location extend into the ground to a depth of over 80 feet.
However, before Highway 1 can reopen, assessments of the bridges will have to be made to determine their load capacity and whether or not any weight restrictions need to be applied as a result of the loss of embankment material around the support structures. Engineers are continuing to monitor the bridges.
At present there is no estimated time for reopening.
A detour is in place. Travelers on northbound Hwy. 1 may take Hwy. 156 east to the US 101 and travel north before taking Hwy. 129 west back to the coast. The reverse of this travel direction would be the detour for southbound travelers.
Road information and updates can also be found on Caltrans District 5 Social Media platforms: Twitter at: @CaltransD5, Facebook at: Caltrans Central Coast (District 5) and Instagram at: Caltrans_D5.
Per the CHP. I have heard of issues at Pt Lobos, Yankee Point, and the Highlands. Stay off the roads if at all possible.
“The roadway is closed at this time along Highway 1 at Carmel River Bridge for travel southbound. Due to several active incidents regarding trees down and wires across the roadway. Drive carefully!”
I will probably be in and out today due to very windy and rainy conditions interfering with satellite, power, and sundry other issues like the highjacking of my twitter account by someone around 2 am this morning. I am locked out of my own account. They changed my password and email associated with my account. I am tempted to crawl into bed, pull the covers up over my head, and call it a day.
And on that note I bring you the morning’s forecast, much as we were told to expect:
Key Points--
* Moderate to strong Atmospheric River impacts the region today
* Direct threat to life and property from wind and water impacts
* Flooding of streets, creeks, and streams is expected
* Moderate to major impacts may occur from river flooding
* Flash flooding, debris flows, and shallow landslides are possible
in complex terrain
* Downed trees expected with widespread power outages possible
* Difficult to impossible travel for some areas due to road closures
The much advertised atmospheric river is taking aim on
the central California coast this morning with deep moisture
advection spreading inland at this hour. Rainfall so far this
morning has been light, generally a few hundredths of an inch per
hour or so. However, rain will increase in coverage and intensity
through the remainder of the morning as a strengthening surface low
approaches the northern and central California coast. As such,
southerly winds will strengthen to around at 25 to 40 mph with gusts
to 50 mph. Gusts of up to 70 mph are expected along the coast,
ridges, peaks and coastal gaps. Winds will be strongest between 4 AM
- 12 PM PDT and likely result in downed trees with the potential for
widespread power outages. With respect to the rain, the highest
rainfall amounts through the day will be in the coastal ranges and
inland hills with 2-3" totals from the Santa Cruz Mountains
northward and 3-6" in the Santa Lucia ranges with isolated amounts
up to 8" in the favored peaks.
