At today’s public meeting, Cal-Trans announced that Rocky Creek would be open to the public for one-way traffic on a 24 hour basis beginning at 8 pm Thursday night.

I’m a little late on this one, as I was awaiting confirmation, and just got it from the Chamber.

“As per Steve Balaban and Jennifer Wilson, Caltrans, Rocky Creek closure will be lifted no later than 8 PM, Thursday, April 21, 2011. If Caltrans is able to re-open earlier than that, they will do so, though any announcement of an earlier opening will likely be after the highway has been re-opened.

Tomorrow, the contractor will be paving the road in the closure area and striping will take place on Wednesday, April 20, 2011.”

Here’s the “official” official statement, which covers both Rocky Creek and Alder Creek.

Today’s Date: Monday, April 18, 2011 @ 3:30 pm
District: 5 – Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo Counties, Monterey, Santa Cruz and San
Benito Counties
Contact: Jim Shivers or Colin Jones
Phone: (805) 549-3237 or (805) 549-3189
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
***TRAFFIC ADVISORY #32***
HIGHWAY 1 CARMEL TO CAMBRIA ROADWAY UPDATE

HWY. 1 REMAINS SHUT DOWN AT ALDER CREEK FOR AT LEAST A MONTH; ROCKY CREEK IS OPEN DURING OVERNIGHT HOURS — A TRAFFIC SIGNAL IS EXPECTED TO BE IN PLACE THURSDAY NIGHT

MONTEREY COUNTY:

(1) Geologic instability and more debris falling on Highway 1 at Alder Creek (PM 7) have required the roadway to be closed in both directions for at least a month. Alder Creek is south of Nacimiento-Fergusson Road. Caltrans and the CHP advise against any unnecessary travel, especially during the overnight hours. THIS AREA OF HIGHWAY 1 CONTINUES TO BE EXTREMELY UNSTABLE. CALTRANS CREWS AND CONTRACTORS ARE CONTINUALLY MONITORING AND CLEARING THE AREA OF DIRT, MUD AND ROCK FROM DAWN UNTIL DUSK. The opening date will be refined depending on the progress of the work.

(2) Highway 1 at Rocky Creek (Post Mile 60.5) is now OPEN for all traffic without any weight or length restrictions from 8 pm until 8 am with one-way reversing traffic control until all temporary repairs performed during the daytime hours at Rocky Creek have been finished.

(3) A traffic signal is expected to be activated on Hwy. 1 at Rocky Creek no later than Thursday, April 21 at 8 pm. This signal will allow traffic to move through this area 24/7 on an alternating basis.

NOTE: PEDESTRIAN ESCORTS THROUGH THIS AREA ENDED ON SATURDAY, APRIL 16.

Another update will be provided as conditions warrant.

For more information on Monterey County projects, call the toll-free hotline at (888) 836-0866 or visit http://www.dot.ca.gov/dist05/projects/. Also, contact the statewide CHIN at (800) 427-7623 for highway traffic updates.

bigsurkate

Appointed appellate counsel for indigent defendants (retired.) I have lived in Big Sur since 1984, first on the north coast, and on the South Coast since 1989.

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  • Man...I hope it's stable!!! You go first. (just kidding) Good luck to ya'll!!! It will be wonderful I know to be able to have traffic again. :)

  • Thanks for the great photo and info...I am planning to come to Big Sur for the marathon...I am coming from San Diego and hope to be camping at Big Sur Campground. With the ALder Creek slide, can you tell me how I could get to the Camp ground now? Also, to get to Monterey Saturday before the marathon, if Rocky Creek is opne with the 1 road, do you have an idea about how long the waits are to cross? I am sure it depends on time of day etc and traffic....I am just trying to get an idea what to plan for.
    Thank you so much!
    Mary

    • If Alder Creek is still closed, you would take the 101 north from SLO to the first exit north of King City and cross over Nacimiento-Fergusson RD to highway One. As to wait times, Cal-Trans is trying to keep the wait times down to 5 mins, but it hasn't even started yet so hard to predict.

  • Thank you so much! You are an early riser.....best time of the day in my opinion! Okay so that is good info and so doable....thanks again and I will bookmark this for future reference! Regards.... Mary

  • Kate,
    The CA Dept. of Transportation website is indicating today that the single lane at Rocky Creek will only be open from 8pm-8am until May 15th. Has something changed--will it no longer be Thursday night? I figured you'd know best!
    Thank you so much for keeping me/the community informed! Your blog has helped me more than you know!

  • I'm a little confused. Is the Rocky Creek section going to open for 24 hour access, or only for access 8 PM to 8 AM each day? The "official" release says only 8 PM to 8 AM. Debra at the Big Sur Lodge indicated it will be open 24 hours.

    It's kind of important that I know for certain, since we have a bunch of cyclists heading down there in a couple of weeks. If the road will be closed during the day, we'll have to make a contingency plan.
    Thanks...terry

  • 8 pm to 8 am until 4/21, then, starting at 8 pm one way controlled 24 hrs a day. CT has not updated their website as often as they update us.

  • My friend Debra is correct, starting 4/21 at 8 pm it will be one lane controlled, 24 hours

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