These photos were sent to me by Dave Nelson. He didn’t indicate if it was north or south of the main gate, but looks like just south. Hailey Knight, whose photos are also below, confirms, just south of the Main Gate.

Here are a few more by Hailey Knight

Date:	Wednesday, March 22, 2023, at 7:00 p.m.
District:	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 #3

REPAIR TO HIGHWAY 1 BRIDGES AT PÁJARO RIVER

TO RESULT IN CLOSURE OF SOUTHBOUND LANE

MONTEREY / SANTA CRUZ COUNTIES – Lane closures are set to begin on Highway 1 where it crosses the Pájaro River as repairs to bridges damaged by recent storms get underway.

Beginning Thursday March 23, travelers on southbound Highway 1 will encounter a 24/7 closure of the #2 (right) lane which will begin just south of Riverside Drive in Watsonville. Additional closure of the northbound lanes may also be necessary.

During different phases of these repairs, travelers can also expect intermittent overnight closures of both southbound lanes. Dates and times for these full closures will be announced in advance.

These bridge repairs are expected to be completed by May 20.

Crews will place slurry and reconstruct the slopes around the bridge supports and foundation piles which were exposed when water flow from an upstream levee breach eroded embankment material.

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/

                           | #BeWorkZoneAlert | Twitter | Facebook | YouTube |

###

Kevin Drabinski

Public Information Officer

Caltrans District 5

50 Higuera St.

San Luis Obispo CA 93401

Office: 805.549.3138

Cell: 805.748.1858

TTY 711

For Immediate Release

March 22, 2023      

Media Contact: Andrew Madsen
(805) 895-0841
andrew.madsen@usda.gov

http://www.facebook.com/lpnf

Twitter: @LosPadresNF

Los Padres National Forest hiring permanent

positions in recreation and trails

SOLVANG, Calif.— The Los Padres National Forest is hiring for several permanent recreation and trail positions with multiple duty locations available. Interested candidates are encouraged to apply now.

Recreation and trails positions on the Los Padres National Forest seek candidates who have an interest and passion for outdoor recreation and public service. Open positions include jobs in recreation, campground operations, and trail maintenance. The U.S. Forest Service is accepting applications through March 30, 2023, on USAjobs with positions available at multiple locations including King City, Santa Maria, Santa Barbara, Ojai, Frazier Park, and Solvang, California.

Visit the Forest website: https://www.fs.usda.gov/main/lpnf/about-forest/jobs for more information about applying for open recreation positions on the Los Padres National Forest or contact Ranger District staff listed below:

Monterey Ranger District

Chevene Simmons

Chevene.simmons@usda.gov, 805-325-0992

Santa Lucia Ranger District

Alicia Sanchez Scott

Alicia.sanchezscott@usda.gov, 805-450-8369

Santa Barbara Ranger District

Rachel Clancy

Rachel.clancy@usda.gov, 805-724-0093

Ojai Ranger District

Tim Short

Timothy.short@usda.gov, 831-206-2129

Mt. Pinos Ranger District

Ari Songer

Ariana.songer@usda.gov, 661-777-2131

From NWS, Monterey Bay:

9:30 am — Just checking in. Hoping everyone is able to stay home and off the roads today as weather predictions for today are rather startling. Here is is windy, but I’ve seen worse. It is raining and the amounts expected to drop on the Big Sur Coast went from 2-3 inches yesterday morning to now 6-7 inches in the Santa Lucias. My satellite goes in and out in this weather, occasionally, so I might not be able to get online to answer questions or respond to comments. I have a nice fire going, two good dogs at my feet and my backup genie charged my solar batteries this am, so I am in good shape. I hope you are as well.

Date:	Monday, March 20, 2023, at 5:00 p.m.
District:	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 #35

LANE OPENED THROUGH SLIDE ON HIGHWAY 1 

FOR EVACUATION PURPOSES

SOUTH OF TORRE CANYON BRIDGE

MONTEREY COUNTY – Crews have been able to create a one-lane opening for evacuation purposes on Highway 1 at a slide just south of the Torre Canyon Bridge, at PM 39.5.

Evacuation is now possible for residents and guests who have been isolated south of the slide.

Storm events starting tonight are likely to close this evacuation access because of the significant rains expected. Once the storms have passed, field efforts will continue to remove slide material and open the road for local residents and the public.

Highway 1 on the Big Sur coast remains closed between Ragged Point in San Luis Obispo County and Deetjen’s Inn in Monterey County at PM 42.2, due to slides and washouts from ongoing winter storm events.

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.

*credit to my Watch Duty friend and colleague Sekhar Padmanabhan for this question.

Today is the first day of Spring. Generally, I have done something specific regarding my favorite day of the year, but this year, someone forgot to tell Mother Nature.

Nonetheless, I want to remind myself that Spring will come…the sun will shine…the days will get longer. Here are some native flowers to remind us of what we have to look forward to.

Date:	Sunday, March 19, 2023, at 5:30 p.m.
District:	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 #34

HIGHWAY 1 TO REMAIN CLOSED TODAY SOUTH OF TORRE CANYON BRIDGE

REOPENING OF A LANE FOR EVACUATION

EXPECTED TOMORROW IF WEATHER PERMITS

MONTEREY COUNTY – Crews were slowed by rain today in their efforts to clear a slide on Highway 1 in Monterey County, just south of the Torre Canyon Bridge, at PM 39.5

There will not be a reopening of Highway 1 today at PM 39.5.

Residents and visitors currently trapped south of the slide and wishing to evacuate should now expect a lane to open on Monday March 20.

This opening is anticipated to be for evacuation purposes only. 

An update will be provided about the timing of the opening of a lane for evacuation as more information becomes available.

We will also be working with stakeholders to develop an access plan for residents to resupply.

Crews will return at first light tomorrow to continue to clear slide material and stabilize the slope.

Highway 1 on the Big Sur coast remains closed between Ragged Point in San Luis Obispo County and Deetjen’s Inn in Monterey County at PM 42.2, due to slides and washouts from ongoing winter storm events.

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.

Photos by Anneliese Agren taken on Friday, 3/17. It is the collapse of the highway at the Willow Springs Caltrans yard, and the hard closure of Highway One on the southern end, although there are some additional problem areas from this point to Ragged Point, which is a guarded closure.