Month: March 2024

Urgent: Big Sur urging ALL but residents with proof of residency to stay away from the area.

Subject: Re: URGENT RELEASE 4

The County of Monterey is asking for the cooperation of visitors and residents to avoid the Big Sur Area entirely. State Hwy 1 is CLOSED at Palo Colorado. Only residents with proof of residency will be allowed in with CHP/Caltrans Escorts. The road conditions are not safe and we need to keep traffic to a minimum for our first responders and emergency personnel. 

County of Monterey EmblemNicholas M. Pasculli (He/Him)County Communications DirectorChief Public Information OfficerCounty Administrative Office

Emergency Info re Rocky Creek

CONVOYS FOR RESIDENTS AND ESSENTIAL WORKERS ONLY AND THOSE WITH OVERNIGHT RESERVATIONS FOR THE EVENING CONVOY. DAY TRIPPERS ALLOWED IN ON MORNING CONVOY.

MARATHON DAY CONVOYS: On Sunday morning, April 28, the start time of the morning convoy at Rocky Creek will be moved up from 7 am to 4 am. This early morning convoy will allow vehicles to pass through from 4 am to 4:45 am. All vehicles must travel north of Rio Road or south of Rocky Creek by 5 am when the race closure goes into effect.

Convoys on Highway 1 through Rocky Creek will return to their regular schedule starting Sunday April 28 at 5 pm.

Resources:

************************************************************

*All State Parks in Big Sur are closed until further notice.*

The County of Monterey Department of Emergency Management has created an information page for the Rocky Creek Slide incident.

The page includes current information on closures, resources and road closures.

We will update this page as conditions change.

https://www.readymontereycounty.org/emergency/rocky-creek-slide

Convoys OUT at 12 and 4 today

Date:Sunday, March 31, 2024, at 11:30 a.m.
District:05 – Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo, Monterey, San Benito, and Santa Cruz Counties
Contact:Kevin Drabinski or Jim Shivers
Phone:(805) 549-3138 or (805) 549-3237 
  

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

UPDATE #2

CONVOYS TO BEGIN TODAY TO ALLOW CONVOY TRAVEL ON HIGHWAY 1 THROUGH SLIPOUT SOUTH OF ROCKY CREEK BRIDGE

MONTEREY COUNTY– Caltrans engineers have completed initial assessments this morning at Highway 1 south of Rocky Creek Bridge where a full closure is in place due to a slip out of the roadway which took place on Saturday March 30.

Engineers have determined that under close supervision, travel will be possible in the remaining northbound lane. 

A convoy will be initiated at 12 pm today to allow for vehicle passage through the closure. At 12 noon today, the convoy will lead vehicles first in the northbound direction. After vehicles clear in that direction, a convoy will lead vehicles through in the southbound direction.

A second convoy operation will be scheduled at 4 pm today, again with travel first in the northbound direction.

On Monday April 1, and for the next several days, a convoy will lead vehicles through the slip out area at 8 am and again at 4 pm.

Crews will be on site to observe the roadway as convoys pass alongside the slip out area. 

Updates on the status of the closure of Highway 1 at the Rocky Creek Bridge will be provided as more information becomes available. 

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.

Trust — lean into the arms of Mother Nature

Big Sur Valley is full. First responders were busy last night notifying people who were stuck in Big Sur Valley with no place to stay, that they could gather in the Big Sur lodge Conference Center. People will be unable to reach loved ones due to a lack of cell service, unless they are lucky enough to be guided to one of only a few places where there is reception, and people were busy helping the tourists in that fashion. People will be missing their flights home. But they will be taken care of.

In going back to March of 2011 on my blog when a similar thing happened, I saw that after a couple weeks, people were able to be escorted over the slip out area on foot. Helicopters were brought in in the days after the slip out to evacuate tourists and bring in supplies. We have been here before and we have shown the resilience and compassionate nature of the local citizens and responders. The one very big difference, is that the route to the south is closed by Dolan, Regent, and Paul’s Slides. Nacimiento is also closed due to damage repairs. So, this slip out is more like when the Bridge went out and parts of Big Sur were isolated from others. We are experienced. Our County is experienced. Our first responders train for these scenarios.

Trust. Lean into the arms of Mother Nature and know she will take care of you — with a little help from the locals. Enjoy the rare experience and focus on the beauty and kindness of Big Sur. You will come to see her as few others have. How wonderful is that?

Caltrans report on Rocky Creek Slipout

HIGHWAY 1 CLOSED AT PALO COLORADO DUE TO SLIP OUT

MONTEREY COUNTY – Highway 1 is closed at Palo Colorado due to a slip south of the Rocky Creek Bridge.  This slip-out has resulted in a loss of the southbound lanes and is encroaching upon the northbound lanes.

Due to this slip out which occurred this afternoon, Highway 1 is now closed from the north at Palo Colorado (PM 65) to just south of Limekiln State Park (PM 20.95).  Caltrans engineers are assessing the site before dark and will continue this assessment a first light tomorrow morning.

PREVIOUS SLIDE UPDATE 3/29/24:

Crews continue to work around rain events in making repairs at the Dolan Point Slide at Post Mile 29.5 and at Paul’s Slide at PM 22. At Dolan Point, crews continue to bring slide material down from the slope above the roadway. Once that work is completed, a permanent cable net drapery system will be installed on the face of the slope. Repairs at Dolan Point are expected to be completed on May 1. At Paul’s Slide crews are working to reopen the roadway by late spring as weather and slide activity continue to impact repair progress at the site.

A final repair design has been completed for the Regent’s Slide at PM 27.8. Surveys of the site indicate that the amount of material that will need to be brought down is in the range of 300,000 cubic yards. By comparison, slides in the winter of 2023 at Dani Creek, Gilbert’s, and Mill Creek, averaged in the range of 30,000 cubic yards.

Initial estimates indicate that once work begins at Regent’s Slide it will take 100 working days to complete the repairs and open the highway.

There are environmental, weather, and other site-specific considerations which will factor into the starting date for the repair operation at Regent’s. Repair work at Regent’s Slide cannot begin until all environmental clearances have been received from the relevant resource agencies. At present, these environmental clearances are expected to be received within 30 days. 

Next week crews will begin to create a path to the top of the slide in order to stage machinery. The steepness of the slope and the limited access to the site will make it challenging to mobilize equipment in and out of the project area. Once bulldozers begin at the top of the slide, they will progress down to roadway level. In the interest of safety and in order to foster efficient productivity, drier conditions at the site will be needed before full repair production can begin.

In the later phases of the repair, once the slide removal reaches the level of the highway, crews will be able to determine if the roadway itself is damaged. Surveys have raised the possibility that the edge of the roadway on the ocean side may have been compromised. If so, this may result in a realignment of the roadway slightly inland from its present course.

An estimate for completion of repairs at Regent’s Slide will be made once the date for the start of repairs there has been established. Given current schedules, Highway 1 should reopen at Paul’s Slide while repair work at Regent’s Slide is still ongoing.

Daily convoys for locals only have continued to be scheduled through Paul’s Slide in the north and southbound direction at 8 am and 4 pm. These convoys allow local residents living north of Paul’s Slide to travel south through Paul’s Slide to secure supplies as travel to the north is blocked by the Dolan Point and Regent’s Slides. Because passage through Paul’s Slide is by way of a dirt roadbed, convoys will continue as long as site conditions and weather make for safe travel.

Highway 1 closed at Rocky Creek

From Mary Moore who works at the Big Sur Lodge and went over just before the road was closed.

Hard closure for all. Per chp:

3] SR1 WASH OUT SB LANE AND NB LANE STARTING
Detail Information
5:11 PM23[61] LATE ENTRY – 1039 PSDSII
5:03 PM22[57] 1039 27-C
5:03 PM21[56] 1039 GILBERT W/ CALTRANS
4:58 PM20[52] 27-S1 CPS / HAVE CALTRANS SET UP CLOSURE CLOSER TO PALO COLORADO [Shared]
4:57 PM19[51] A27-068 NOTIFYING S1 BIG SUR CALTRANS CREW ON 1097 / NEG ENGENIEER SEEN [Shared]
4:52 PM18[49] A27-074 APPRX 40 VEHS NEED TO GO NB PER SO [Shared]
4:47 PM17[46] A27-068 1097 AT CLOSURE // TURNED ABOUT 3 DOZEN VEHS AROUND TO GO NB [Shared]
4:42 PM16[45] A27-068 START HARD CLOSURE AT PALO COLORADO TO TURN TRFC AROUND [Shared]
4:40 PM15[43] A27-074 NB LNS SHUT DOWN / RD COMPLETELY CLOSED NB AND SB [Shared]
4:38 PM14[40] [Notification] [CHP]-12 VIA LL // EVERYONE IN BIG SUR IS GOING TO BE STUCK // CAN GO 108 IF OKAY W/ S1AND START DIVERTING TFRC ON THE SOUTH END [Shared]
4:31 PM13[37] A27-074 CPS / ADVSD SOMEONE WAS ABLE TO LOOK UNDER RDWY AND RPTD NO DIRT UNDER THE PAVEMENT MOVING TWRDS NB LN [Shared]
4:29 PM12[35] 27-S1 WHEN 68 GORS 1097 / 74 CAN GO NORTH TO SEND PICTUES [Shared]
4:24 PM11[30] 27-S1 VIA LL * ISSUE SIG ALERT [Shared]
4:20 PM10[28] 27-S1 CPS INQ ETA F/ 74 [Shared]
4:19 PM9[27] [Notification] [CHP]-PER MTRY COMM // NB SIDE IS STARTING TO WASH OUT AS WELL AND FIRE IS WORKING ON CLOSING BTH NB AND SB LNS// STATE PARKS ADVS // SOLO FIRE UNIT 97 [Shared]
4:15 PM8[25] A27-068 CPS WILL DO IT WHEN 1097 [Shared]
4:13 PM7[21] [Appended, 16:14:12] [1] 10′ CHUNCK OF ROAD FELL INTO THE OCEAN 
4:07 PM6[15] [Notification] [CHP]-MTRY COMM //REQ UPDATES SO THAT WAY EMRGENCY VEHS CAN START PLANNING [Shared]
3:59 PM5[9] 1039 FIRE COMM [Shared]
3:59 PM4[8] 1039 MTRY COMM [Shared]
3:57 PM3[4] SB SR1 APPROX 1 MI JNO BIXBY CREEK BRIDGE 1/3RD OF SB LANE IS GONE [Shared]
3:57 PM2[3] 1023 TIL UNIT 1097 [Shared]
3:56 PM1[1] HALF OF SB LN GONE

Dolan and Regent Slide update:

Date:Thursday, March 28, 2024
District:05 – Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo, Monterey, San Benito, and Santa Cruz Counties
Contact:Kevin Drabinski or Jim Shivers
Phone:(805) 549-3138 or (805) 549-3237 
  

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

UPDATE #4

HIGHWAY 1 AT REGENT’S SLIDE NOW ESTIMATED TO REOPEN

AFTER FINAL REPAIRS AT PAUL’S SLIDE

MONTEREY COUNTY – Crews continue to make progress with repairs at three major slides on Highway 1 on the Big Sur coast. 

Except for a 12.1-mile closure, the vast majority of Highway 1 remains open to travelers. Highway 1 remains open from the Monterey/Carmel area to just south of the Esalen Institute, and from the Cambria/San Simeon area to just south of Limekiln State Park.

Crews continue to work around rain events in making repairs at the Dolan Point Slide at Post Mile 29.5 and at Paul’s Slide at PM 22. At Dolan Point, crews continue to bring slide material down from the slope above the roadway. Once that work is completed, a permanent cable net drapery system will be installed on the face of the slope. Repairs at Dolan Point are expected to be completed on May 1. At Paul’s Slide crews are working to reopen the roadway there by late spring as weather and slide activity continue to impact repair progress at the site.

A final repair design has been completed for the Regent’s Slide at PM 27.8. Surveys of the site indicate that the amount of material that will need to be brought down is in the range of 300,000 cubic yards. By comparison, slides in the winter of 2023 at Dani Creek, Gilbert’s, and Mill Creek, averaged in the range of 30,000 cubic yards.

Initial estimates indicate that once work begins at Regent’s Slide it will take 100 working days to complete the repairs and open the highway.

There are environmental, weather, and other site-specific considerations which will factor into the starting date for the repair operation at Regent’s. Repair work at Regent’s Slide cannot begin until all environmental clearances have been received from the relevant resource agencies. At present, these environmental clearances are expected to be received within 30 days. 

Next week crews will begin to create a path to the top of the slide in order to stage machinery. The steepness of the slope and the limited access to the site will make it challenging to mobilize equipment in and out of the project area. Once bulldozers begin at the top of the slide, they will progress down to roadway level. In the interest of safety and in order to foster efficient productivity, drier conditions at the site will be needed before full repair production can begin.

In the later phases of the repair, once the slide removal reaches the level of the highway, crews will be able to determine if the roadway itself is damaged. Surveys have raised the possibility that the edge of the roadway on the ocean side may have been compromised. If so, this may result in a realignment of the roadway slightly inland from its present course.

An estimate for completion of repairs at Regent’s Slide will be made once the date for the start of repairs there has been established. Given current schedules, Highway 1 should reopen at Paul’s Slide while repair work at Regent’s Slide is still ongoing.

Daily convoys for locals only have continued to be scheduled through Paul’s Slide in the north and southbound direction at 8 am and 4 pm. These convoys allow local residents living north of Paul’s Slide to travel south through Paul’s Slide to secure supplies as travel to the north is blocked by the Dolan Point and Regent’s Slides. Because passage through Paul’s Slide is by way of a dirt roadbed, convoys will continue as long as site conditions and weather make for safe travel.

As a result of ongoing repairs at these three slides, the northern closure point on Highway 1 remains at Lime Creek at PM 32.1. The southern closure point remains at PM 20, just south of Limekiln State Park, making for a 12.1-mile closure on the coast.

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.

Our crews deserve to get home safely too.

Drive slowly and carefully in work zones.

CHP Traffic Incident Information Page: http://cad.chp.ca.gov

Traveler information at: https://quickmap.dot.ca.gov/