BigSurKate

Sorry, I am a day late with this, but yesterday I did a town run, and since I was driving, and mostly out of cell range, I couldn’t get this up. In any event, here you go. Also, here is an article about our situation written by a local and friend, Anni Agren, you might find interesting. I already shared it on FB, so will be  a repeat for some of you. The link is below. There is not much (if any) new information in the Cal Trans briefing, but it has been a while since I published the entire thing, so am doing so here. Note, old dates for upcoming convoys, with an update that no convoys are expected for next week. However, at the entrance to FHL from Jolon Rd. I did note a flashing sign indicating an expected truck convoy for 6/27, next Thursday. Whether this was for an expected convoy that has since been canceled or whether it is for one of FHL’s own convoys is undetermined at this time.

Article by Anni Agren

Photos of: 1) Mud Creek from North Side facing South yesterday, 6/22; 2-4) Paul’s Slide (PM 21.6)—2] Video with massive boulder from Tuesday, 6/20; 3] panoramic photo of Paul’s from Tuesday, 6/20 and 4] photo of busy work at Paul’s yesterday; 5) Pfeiffer Canyon Bridge photo from yesterday showing construction of temporary center tower to assist in the future launching of the bridge across canyon and 6) Convoy video from Tuesday, 6/20 containing delivery trucks filled with aggregate and materials to assist in the construction of the new Pfeiffer Canyon Bridge.

*NO CONVOY SCHEDULED FOR PFEIFFER CANYON BRIDGE NEXT WEEK (JUNE 26-30)*

HIGHWAY 1 UPDATE – FRIDAY, JUNE 23:
STATE ROUTE 1 CLOSURE MOVES UP FIVE MILES ON THE SOUTH END FROM RAGGED POINT IN SLO COUNTY TO NORTH OF SALMON CREEK, JUST SOUTH OF THE RANGER STATION (PM 3) IN MON COUNTY EFFECTIVE TOMORROW, SATURDAY, JUNE 24.

PAUL’S SLIDE ON STATE ROUTE 1 CONTINUES WITH USUAL ACCESS SCHEDULE TO LOCAL RESIDENTS/DELIVERIES….WE WILL CONTINUE RE-ASSESSING AND AN UPDATE PROVIDED BY MID-DAY MONDAY, JUNE 26 (See Update under “Paul’s Slide” for more details.)

STATE ROUTE 1 REMAINS FULLY CLOSED IN BOTH DIRECTIONS AT MUD CREEK DUE TO CONTINUED SLIDE ACTIVITY. DELIVERY VEHICLES AND LOCAL RESIDENTS WILL NEED TO USE NACIMIENTO-FERGUSSON TO EXIT SOUTH OR TO CLEAR THE ACCESS TIMES AT PAUL’S SLIDE.

THE INFORMATION BELOW IS FOR LOCAL RESIDENTS AND DELIVERY VEHICLES ONLY;THE ONLY ACCESS TO THE PUBLIC HAS CHANGED AND IS SHOWN BELOW.

Public Access on Highway 1 now at two locations:
1) The closure has moved up five miles to the north from Ragged Point (Slo PM 72.87) to north of Salmon Creek and just south of the Ranger Station (Mon PM 3.0), effective tomorrow, Saturday, June 24.
2) Using Nacimiento-Fergusson, will be to Gorda (PM 10) to the south, and to Limekiln State Park (PM 20.76) to the north.

************************************************************************************************
Mud Creek (PM 8.9) – MUD CREEK HAD A MAJOR SLIDE/SLIP OUT AT 9:30 PM, SATURDAY, MAY 20—IT LOST MILLIONS OF CUBIC YARDS OF MATERIAL. GEOTECHNICAL INVESTIGATION CONTINUES AT THE SITE AND INCLUDES: FIELD MAPPING, RADAR MONITORING AND REVIEW OF USGS PHOTOGRAMMETRIC SURVEY DATA. IT REMAINS IMPASSABLE UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE.
·
Paul’s Slide (PM 21.6)—CONTINUES WITH USUAL ACCESS SCHEDULE TO LOCAL RESIDENTS/DELIVERIES.

IMPORTANT NOTE: THE ROADWAY THROUGH PAUL’S SLIDE CAN CLOSE DOWN AT ANY TIME WITHOUT PRIOR NOTICE . CALTRANS NEEDS TO CONTINUE RE-ASSESSING THE SITUATION AND DETERMINE WHETHER LOCAL ACCESS CAN REMAIN THROUGH PAUL’S SLIDE.

· 12:00PM Monday / Wednesday / Friday– A single caravan south and a single caravan north, you must be in line by noon! There may be up to 45 minute delay to clear the road before the opening.

· Delivery vehicles (Restriction is 30 feet maximum length and 50,000 lbs. maximum weight) can now use all access windows 7 days a week.

· Access times for the morning and evening are still the same except for Friday:

5:30AM to 6:00AM and 7:00PM to 7:30PM – Sat.-Thurs.

· Friday’s hours will be shortened to:

5:30AM – 8:00AM and 6:00PM to 7:30PM

· The noon opening will be for PAUL’S SLIDE ONLY, (NOT MUD CREEK); you will need to use Nacimiento-Fergusson Road to exit the coast.

The targeted “public access” date is currently mid-July, dependent on roadway conditions and slide activity.

Pfeiffer Canyon Bridge [PCB] (PM 45.52)
· Girders continue to be fabricated in Vallejo, CA and are being sent to Linden, CA (near Stockton) for painting before being trucked over to the Pfeiffer Canyon Bridge construction site.
· Mud Creek assessment progress continues but is closed until further notice. We continue to bring convoys with 10-wheelers containing loads of material: gravel, sand, equipment and other items via convoys through Nacimiento—Fergusson with CHP escorts—the next convoy is scheduled for tomorrow, Tuesday, June 20
· Current “Tentative” Timeline as follows:
o On site, the contractor has completed abutment 2 on the north side and continues work to complete abutment 1 on the south side, scheduled to complete mid-July.
o The steel girders will be assembled on site between July 6—July 30.
o Bridge Launch is scheduled between July 31—August 6.
o Deck Construction—schedule to be determined.
o Current public access date remains: Mid-to-late September

Posted in 2016-2017 Winter Storm & Road Reports

I needed a break from the heat. I had a UPS package waiting for me at the school. I had mail. I had a glass of white zin with my name on it waiting for me at Gorda, so I headed the call of Mother Nature’s air conditioning and that glass of cold white zin and went down to the coast.

It was there that I ran into one of the workers on that little nuisance slide to the north, called Paul’s Slide. The IDS GeoRadar was detecting movement, and the pebbles were beginning to fall. He also said that movement was detected at Mud Creek.

I sent an email to both Cal Trans and my contact at IDS GeoRadar seeking confirmation. Cal Trans is unavilable until tomorrow morning – Susan is out in the field – and IDS has not yet responded. He is probably out in the field as well. I’ll update when I have more information.

Posted in 2016-2017 Winter Storm & Road Reports

Above photo by Howard Jones

Above photo by Tony Shelfo

And as you can see, a fence (see top photo) means nothing to some people. I have watched the USFS put up fences and barriers over and over, only to watch them be destroyed. It gets disheartening.

This one is on Plaskett. Photo by bigsurkate

Posted in 2016-2017 Winter Storm & Road Reports

Yesterday’s San Jose Mercury has an interesting article about what the author dubs Mud Creek’s “sibling” slide.

The Big Sur slide you have not heard of

By Lisa M. Krieger

lkrieger@bayareanewsgroup.com

There’s a second smaller landslide in Big Sur that’s been eclipsed by the drama of the epic Mud Creek slide.

But it’s an equally big headache if you’re trying to reach the coast from Highway 101.

Here’s more bad news: This sibling slide — named “Paul’s Slide” — won’t be cleared until mid-July, says Caltrans.

To read the rest of this article go to this link:

http://mercurynews.ca.newsmemory.com/publink.php?shareid=447ba37aa

Posted in 2016-2017 Winter Storm & Road Reports