By Jimmy James:

Due to the enthusiastic response of locals helping to build the emergency access hiking trail with state parks and CCC, the trail is nearly ready for limited use. State Parks will be issuing trail usage passes to local residents and workers in the area. Trail usage at this point will be limited to hours when construction is not taking place. Details will be coming but it looks like trail will be open for local access for a limited time in the morning and afternoon. The trail is still under construction but it is hopeful that Sunday’s inspection with the Carmel Unified School District will find the conditions safe for the students as early as next week. The trail is a difficult walk taking about 25 minutes. Sturdy shoes are recommended.
Daily updates are available on the County OES website.
Thank you for your patience and to the over 100 of the local residents who have helped hand build this trail, this essential lifeline.

Thank You!
Carissa & John DeLuca, State Parks Superintendent, Monterey District (Acting)

 

Original Video by Stan Russell and Kyle Evans, GIF by the Mystery Map Maker. Way cool Thanks MMM.

Hello everyone,

Please inform the public all vehicles at this location need to clear out of this area by Friday, March 31:

1. This location is South of Abutment 1, nearly across the street from the Rancho Rico driveway.
2. We need vehicles to clear out by Friday, March 31, 2017 (no cars in turn out area); PG & E will require access to re-set poles and wires
prior to drilling.
3. We will begin mobilization of drilling equipment for abutment construction on April 10th and plan on staging equipment and material
there.

Thank you so much for helping get the word out.

Susana Z. Cruz nature-flower-blue-motif[1]
Caltrans District 5
Acting Manager
Public Information Office

Thanks to an amazing community, near and far, we were named best blog of Monterey County by the readers of Monterey County Weekly. Thank you.

This one seems to be the same one issued yesterday, as you will note at the end the next update has not been changed, but never-the-less, I will persist in posting it.

SR-1 Full Closure—Ragged Pt (SLO PM 72.87) to the Multi-Agency Facility “MAF”(MON PM 46.35). Recent rains did not change the status.
· Nacimiento-Fergusson Road is now open to the public.
· Public access on Highway 1, using Nacimiento-Fergusson, will be to Gorda (PM 10) to the south, and to Limekiln State Park (PM 20) to the north.
· Friday deliveries: Residents and deliveries will be allowed through at Paul’s Slide and Mud Creek once per week on Fridays between 5:30am – 9:00am, and 5:00pm – 7:30pm. Delivery vehicles are limited to 30 feet in length and up to 50,000 pounds.
· Residents will have access between Ragged Point and Limekiln State Park and from north of Paul’s Slide to just south of Pfeiffer Canyon Bridge between 5:30 am and 7:30 pm. Four gates are closing the roadway overnight at the following locations: 1) south end of Mud Creek (PM 8.8); 2) north end of Mud Creek (PM 8.9); 3) North end of Limekiln Creek Bridge (PM 21.07) and 4) north end of Hermitage wall (PM 22.42).
o Emergency services will have overnight access to the locked gates.

Mud Creek (PM 8.9):
· The roadway continues to deteriorate as slide activity continues daily. Further updates about the ability to pass through this section will be provided as the slide stabilizes.
· For now, resident access will continue to be allowed daily between 5:30 am and 7:30 pm.

Paul’s Slide (PM 21.6):
· As of today, Wednesday, March 22nd , there will be limited access due to major excavation above the roadway; access is limited to 5:30am – 6:00am and 7:00pm – 7:30pm. This will be for a minimum of four to six weeks and we will continually evaluate for opportunities to improve local resident access.
· For the Friday opportunities to resupply, access is limited to vehicles weighing 50,000 lbs., with a maximum vehicle length of 30 feet.
· Work will performed 24/7 as conditions allow, and updates will continue to be provided.

IMPORTANT NOTE – CALTRANS PFEIFFER CYN. BRIDGE (PM 45.5):
· Demolition of the bridge is nearly complete: bridge debris clearing from the canyon began Monday and operations to demolish Span 1 (south side) and clear debris from the canyon continues, as the rain allows. Please stay clear of the area for your own safety and to allow the construction team to work on re-building this vital part of the road.

All business north of the Pfeiffer Canyon Bridge closure are open to the public.

ADDITIONAL NOTES:
· Due to the nature of the construction activities, access will be subject to change on a regular basis.

· Another update regarding the Highway 1 Big Sur Coast will be provided mid-day on Wednesday, March 22 or sooner if conditions change.

· NOTE: For information on emergency services only (not Caltrans inquiries) for the Big Sur Coast, you may contact Gerry Malais, Mon. Co. OES via email at: malaisg@co.monterey.ca.us or Maia Carroll, Mon. Co. OES PIO at carrollm@co.monterey.ca.us .

Hello!
It is with great regret that I write to tell you that once again the Big Sur Jade Festival is canceled for May 5, 6, 7! As you know, Big Sur and Highway 1 have suffered massive damages this winter to render the area “not ready for prime time”. The conditions on Highway 1 are such that people from the north & south would have had to travel through the narrow 1 & 1/2 lane mountain road of Nacimiento-Fergusson, making travel very long and dangerous, with the amount of people who would be coming. With winter conditions still upon us, travel over that road could be impassable at any time. We were certain the USFS would not have issued us a permit under those conditions. So to be prudent, we canceled the festival for the May dates and are reverting back to the Oct. 6-8 dates. We know that may be fire season once again, but are trying to remain optimistic!

It seems incredulous to cancel the festival once again, but this has been 1 hell of a year in Big Sur between the fires starting in July and slides beginning in January, just 6 months apart! There will be an announcement on our website & Facebook, but please tell everyone you know to once again look forward to an October festival. We’ll have our 25th, yet!

Once again, my sincere apologies. Thank you for your understanding.

Lisa Gering & the Big Sur Jade Festival Committee

In response to my question re the above, I got this from the Superintendent of the Big Sur State Park:

“My previous statement, as posted in comment section, regarding bicycles is correct. This is an emergency by pass trail intended for pedestrian traffic only. Bicycles will not be suitable or allowed.

Thank you,

John De Luca
Sector Superintendent / SPS III (acting)
California State Parks
Big Sur Sector – Monterey District”

A bicylist contacted the State Park and got this same reply. He is working out the inland route for bicyclists and will be sharing the same with the bicycling community. Given the nature of some comments on the last post re bicyclists on this by-pass trail, I have turned comments OFF for this post and won’t be answering any private emails, either.

“Good Afternoon,

County staff issued a notice for hearing on the Short Term Rental (STR) ordinance. Due to conditions in Big Sur preventing accessibility to participate in this hearing, staff will be recommending continuing the hearing to a date uncertain. We have a status report and a draft of the ordinance that we will send out prior to the next hearing. County will re-notice the matter when we have a solution for full participation. Again, staff will recommend that the Commission continue the matter and request that testimony at the hearing on March 29, 2017 be limited to the question of continuance only.

Thank you,

Jacqueline R. Onciano
Planning Commission Secretary”

Jacquelyn Nickerson
Administrative Secretary
Monterey County
Resource Management Agency
Land Use Division
831-755-5240

SR-1 Full Closure—Ragged Pt (SLO PM 72.87) to the Multi-Agency Facility “MAF”(MON PM 46.35). Please note changes since yesterday below:

· Nacimiento-Fergusson Road is now open to the public.
· Public access on Highway 1, using Nacimiento-Fergusson, will be to Gorda (PM 10) to the south, and to Limekiln State Park (PM 20) to the north.
· There will be a complete closure at Paul’s Slide (PM 21.6). Residents will have limited access (mornings from 5:30am – 6:00am and evenings from 7:00pm – 7:30pm). These daily windows will not allow for deliveries.
· Friday deliveries: Residents and deliveries will be allowed through at Paul’s Slide and Mud Creek once per week on Fridays between 5:30am – 9:00am, and 5:00pm – 7:30pm. Delivery vehicles are limited to 30 feet in length and up to 50,000 pounds.
· Residents will have access between Ragged Point and Limekiln State Park and from north of Paul’s Slide to just south of Pfeiffer Canyon Bridge between 5:30 am and 7:30 pm. Four gates are closing the roadway overnight at the following locations: 1) south end of Mud Creek (PM 8.8); 2) north end of Mud Creek (PM 8.9); 3) North end of Limekiln Creek Bridge (PM 21.07) and 4) north end of Hermitage wall (PM 22.42).
o Emergency services will have overnight access to the locked gates.

Mud Creek (PM 8.9):
· The roadway continues to deteriorate as slide activity continues daily. Further updates about the ability to pass through this section will be provided as the slide stabilizes.
· For now, resident access will continue to be allowed daily between 5:30 am and 7:30 pm.

Paul’s Slide (PM 21.6):
· Starting tomorrow, Wednesday, March 22nd , there will be limited access due to major excavation above the roadway; access is limited to 5:30am – 6:00am and 7:00pm – 7:30pm. This will be for a minimum of four to six weeks and we will continually evaluate for opportunities to improve local resident access.
· For the Friday opportunities to resupply, access is limited to vehicles weighing 50,000 lbs., with a maximum vehicle length of 30 feet.
· Work will performed 24/7 as conditions allow, and updates will continue to be provided.

IMPORTANT NOTE – CALTRANS PFEIFFER CYN. BRIDGE (PM 45.5):
· Demolition of the bridge is nearly complete: bridge debris clearing from the canyon began yesterday and operations to demolish Span 1 (south side) and clear debris from the canyon continues, as the rain allows. Please stay clear of the area for your own safety and to allow the construction team to work on re-building this vital part of the road.

All business north of the Pfeiffer Canyon Bridge closure are open to the public.

ADDITIONAL NOTES:
· Due to the nature of the construction activities, access will be subject to change on a regular basis.

· Another update regarding the Highway 1 Big Sur Coast will be provided mid-day on Wednesday, March 22 or sooner if conditions change.

· NOTE: For information on emergency services only (not Caltrans inquiries) for the Big Sur Coast, you may contact Gerry Malais, Mon. Co. OES via email at: malaisg@co.monterey.ca.us or Maia Carroll, Mon. Co. OES PIO at carrollm@co.monterey.ca.us .