1:00 pm – This update just received from Cal-Trans. (Ed. note: the contractor awarded the temporary repair is the same one working on the permanent repair down at Dani Creek near Lucia, a similar slip out.)
(1) Due to severe roadway damage to the southbound lane, a 2-mile section of Hwy. 1 at Rocky Creek (Post Mile
60.5) continues to be closed in both directions. The closure is north of Big Sur from the Bixby Creek Bridge to Palo Colorado Road, south of Carmel. This barricaded closure is for all travel including emergency vehicles, pedestrians and cyclists.
• Crews assessing the roadway have tentatively determined that, at the earliest, it will be nearly one month for a temporary repair to occur. Inclement weather and geologic instability continue to be a factor in roadwork progress.
• Condon Johnson & Associates of Oakland is the contractor for this $2.5 million emergency project and is currently mobilizing for the temporary repair. Drill rigs are on site and getting assembled while material for drilling vertical and horizontal soil nails in order to stabilize the remaining roadway section are arriving. This site is an active construction and the slope is still unstable so the roadway is unsafe for public access.
• All businesses along the coast on Hwy. 1 remain open directly and are directly accessible from the south. For access from the north, alternate routes include Highways 101, 68 and 46.
• More rain is expected in the Monterey Bay Area through the weekend.
• CHP is on site to secure the slide area and ensure safety for the public.
• Continuous updates will be provided as more information becomes available and/or conditions change.
I don’t repeat rumors (and there are a few of those flying as our isolation extends) , but I did hear from a reliable source that one or more locals created some problems at the closure yesterday. Let’s be part of the solution, not part of the problem.
11:30 am – there is a report of a slide at the bottom of Nacimiento-Fergusson Rd. However, it is possible to get past it at this time.
11:00 am – short but intense hail storm. Have received numerous reports that the road between Cambria and Big Sur is hanging tough, thanks to a wonderful Cal-Trans crew. Several people report making it through with no major difficulties.
9:30 am – I slept in after the storm kept me up much of the night. I woke to banshee winds around 2 am, and couldn’t get back to sleep until my my bed stopped rocking and rolling. It was howling! My son sent me some shots of the road south last night, so I’ll post those now. There are three of them. Pretty knarly out there!
**FLASH FLOOD WATCH***
Lots of emails to check and news to post but here are the photos taken this morning on the south end of our road.
Okay, that’s it for this morning’s photos. I am getting a few questions and it is much easier to answer them here, so all will know, rather than individually. Friend came over Nacimiento-Fergusson Rd this morning through base, all quiet and cleared, so that route is good. As to number to call for Cal-Trans re getting a foot path open, I would suggest the PIO Colin Jones. 805-549-3189. While I used to have (and may still) Steve Price’s number, a) I can’t find it, and b) I’m not authorized to give it out. Lastly, have heard nothing re road to the south, which is good news.
NOAA discussion: “AS OF 9:02 AM PDT WEDNESDAY…A FRONT HAS PASSED OVER THE FORECAST AREA THIS MORNING AND RESULTED IN PERIODS OF HIGH WIND AND MODERATE TO HEAVY RAIN. MANY RIVERS AND STREAMS DID RESPOND TO THIS RAIN BUT REMAIN WELL BELOW FLOOD STAGE. … THE LARGEST THREAT FROM THESE STORMS
WILL BE SCATTERED MODERATE TO HEAVY SHOWERS THROUGHOUT THE DAY TODAY. THESE SCATTERED MODERATE TO HEAVY SHOWERS WILL RESULT IN ADDITIONAL PONDING ON THE ROADS AND PERIODS OF RISES IN THE RIVERS AND STREAMS.
MODEL SOLUTIONS ARE INDICATING THAT A LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM
CURRENTLY LOCATED IN THE GULF OF ALASKA WILL RAPIDLY SLIDE
SOUTHEAST INTO NORTHERN CALIFORNIA THURSDAY EVENING. A SIGNIFICANT JET MAX…110 TO 120 KT…WILL ACCOMPANY THE SURFACE FRONT AND PRODUCE ANOTHER ROUND OF SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS FOR THE NORTHERN AND CENTRAL CALIFORNIA COAST. SOME OF THE SHOWERS WILL BE HEAVY AT TIMES. AFTER THE PAST FEW DAYS THE SOIL IS QUITE SATURATED AND RIVERS AND STREAMS WILL SEE A RAPID RESPONSE TO ANY ADDITIONAL PRECIPITATION.”
Let’s stay safe today!
The following is from the California Office of Emergency Services:
Event: Met: FLOOD WATCH
Levels: Future – Severe – Possible
Expires: 16:00 PDT on 2011-03-23
From: NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SAN FRANCISCO BAY AREA
Headline: FLASH FLOOD WATCH IS CANCELLED
Description: COASTAL NORTH BAY…INCLUDING POINT REYES NATIONAL SEASHORE- NORTH BAY MOUNTAINS-SAN FRANCISCO PENINSULA COAST- SANTA CRUZ MOUNTAINS- SANTA LUCIA MOUNTAINS AND LOS PADRES NATIONAL FOREST- NORTHERN SALINAS VALLEY…HOLLISTER VALLEY…AND CARMEL VALLEY- NORTHERN MONTEREY BAY-SOUTHERN MONTEREY BAY AND BIG SUR COAST- THE FLASH FLOOD WATCH FOR THE GREATER SAN FRANCISCO AND MONTEREY BAY REGIONS IS CANCELLED. THE THREAT OF HEAVY LOCALIZED RAINFALL ASSOCIATED WITH THE FRONT HAS NOW PASSED. HOWEVER FOR THE REMAINDER OF TODAY…SHOWERS BEHIND THE FRONT ARE STILL EXPECTED AND THE POTENTIAL FOR AN OCCASIONAL MODERATE SHOWER IS STILL THERE. LOCALIZED PONDING OF ROADWAYS CAN ALSO STILL BE EXPECTED WHERE SHOWERS OCCUR. THEREFORE CAUTION IS STILL ADVISED FOR TRAVEL TODAY.
The above information is made available by the California Emergency Digital Information Service (EDIS).
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Here’s the link that should have copied and pasted in the previous response from me for EDIS.
I know I should notice the road hazards in your photo, but what I notice most is the abundance of pampas grass!