Given the totals of the rain amounts so far, for this first, MILD influx of rain, I am not anxious to see what the heavier storm later in the week brings. We are between 2 and 1/2″ and over 4″ down here on the South Coast. That can’t bode well for Paul’s Slide or Mud Creek.

SR-1 Full Closure—Ragged Pt (SLO PM 72.87) to the Multi-Agency Facility “MAF”(MON PM 46.35). Please note changes since last Friday 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. Starting tonight, Monday, March 20th, four gates will close 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 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. 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 Tuesday, March 21 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 or via phone at (831) 796-3092.

NOTE: TODAY TWO PEOPLE USED NACIMIENTO TO MAKE THEIR WAY ALL THE WAY UP TO POST RANCH. THIS WAS REPORTED TO CAL TRANS WHO INDICATED THEY WILL BE LOOKING TO PREVENT THIS. IT WAS REPORTED TO ME AND I WAS ABLE TO COPY IT AND SEND IT ON TO CAL TRANS. PLEASE CONTINUE TO SEND ME THIS TYPE OF INFORMATION SO I CAN FORWARD IT ON TO THE POWERS THAT BE.

I have been getting a lot of requests lately from bicyclists and others about the use of the trail that is being constructed partially by locals for locals through a closed area, and I would offer this observation: the community does not think this (the use of the trail by bicyclists or others) is a good idea. It is narrow and steep, and full of steps. We are trying to heal. The path is an emergency measure for those who live here who are trying to survive – separation from loves ones; separation from work and home; and separation from children and their schools. It is our way of surviving, not a way to welcome guests. We would ask the bicycling community and others to honor and respect the healing we are trying to obtain in a difficult situation and time. I know you would love to experience the coast without all the cars, so would we. However, it is not just the bridge, it is the other two problems – Paul’s Slide and Mud Creek, one of which will be closed to visitors all of April and probably May as well. So the trail will not get you down the coast. There are other closures preventing a through passageway.

We want visitors, our community makes most of our living off of visitors, but we want them when it is safe for all. Please, we will welcome you when the road is open, but not when it is not open or safe. If you love Big Sur, honor her. She is saying she has had enough for now. Let her rest and recover. Let us rest and recover, we spent all summer fighting fire; we have been burned out of our homes; and winter has brought us floods that have ruined our roads. We are fragile, as a people and as a land. When the road is open, completely, or only just from the south or just from the north, we will welcome you. Right now, it is only open on the north from Carmel to the MAF – Big Sur Ranger Station, and not at all on the south. Bring your tourist dollars to the area and businesses that are open, but … Please. Honor Big Sur and the people who live here and the land and the people’s need to heal. If you love Big Sur, you will listen to what she is saying … give her and us time. Please.

Today’s Date: Sunday, March 19, 2017
District 05: Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo, Monterey, San Benito and Santa
Cruz Counties
Contact: Susana Z. Cruz (bilingual) or Jim Shivers
Phone: (805) 549-3138 or (805) 549-3237
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

DEMOLITION OF PFEIFFER CANYON BRIDGE SUCCESSFUL THIS WEEKEND WITH REMOVAL OF SPAN TWO/PROJECT CONTINUES THIS WEEK

MONTEREY COUNTY – The demolition of the Pfeiffer Canyon Bridge on State Route 1 continued on Saturday, March 18 with a successful demolition of
span No. 2 (middle section). Span No. 3 (north section) was demolished on Thursday, March 16.

The demolition of Span No. 1 (south section) will begin Monday, March 20, weather permitting and is expected to take several days to complete.
In addition, work to recover debris from the demolished spans will occur over the next several days.

This bridge was closed last month due to mud/rock slides which caused unrepairable damage. A replacement bridge will be built and is expected to take nine to twelve months to complete.

Caltrans will provide updates regarding this demolition process as warranted.

From Kurt tonight:

“Hi Kate just got back from trail work , I volunteered today and at lunch time they told me there was a fire at the deli I checked it out and a pan left unintended caught on fire. It was in a 8 by 10 metal building and it did blacked the interior pretty good but no real damage thankfully- the cooks need to pay attention. I’ll check out the produce thing because we do need someone who can deliver- thanks Kurt”

Jeff Mallory just brought this to my attention. I know nothing else, but would certainly like any additional information available. Thank goodness there is a water tender on the south side of the bridge, and the fire house. I hope and pray for Kurt this is a minor incident or better yet, an error.
Incident: 00106
Type: Report of Fire
Location: Sr1 / Big Sur Deli
Loc Desc: SR1 AT BIG SUR DELI, MM 45.30
Lat/Lon: <http://www.google.com/maps/place/36.238431%20-121.772007>36.238431 -121.772007
Detail Information
10:34 AM2[2] TRANS TO MONT COM
10:34 AM1[1] POSS STRUCTURE FIRE
Unit Information
10:35 AM1Unit Assigned

Is Big Sur closed!? No…! Really? Where is it closed? Totally closed?
For how long? That can’t be? Will we have a Fashion Show?
What about the Henry Miller Library, will you be able to stay afloat?
Well…read on.

The wires have indeed been heating up with questions and speculations (some wilder than the backcountry itself!) and at the time of writing some answers to pressing questions are coming in! Please see lower down in this message.

For the purpsoe of this e-mail let’s start with one thing that we do know:
Our glorious and excellent host of the Fashion Show last year, The River Inn, will be unable to host us again this year due to much repair work. But…
Dear Dedicated Followers of Fashion! FEAR NOT!
We are excited to announce that “the show will go on!” After all, the very reason the show was created in the first place (Basin Fire!) was to bring a joyous uplifting celebration through our creative powers despite the challenges around us! We now have a challenge:

The Phoenix Rises – Here is the Big Sur Fashion Show!

The Barnyard at Rio Rd and Hwy 1, will host the Fashion Show this year!

The Barnyard will serve as the gateway between Big Sur and the Peninsula, strengthening the bonds between our communities and helping us to bridge the gap! We trust that all of you reading this will join us in thanking the Barnyard for the support they’ve granted us!
Good neighbors indeed!
We will have an amazing show for all of you on Friday, MAY 19th.
Mark your calendars for the new date!
We are also updating our fundraising focus so that net proceeds this year are split between two beneficiaries, the newly created Big Sur Relief Fund and The Henry Miller Library. We will be posting more details on this and announcing ticket sales very soon!

SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES!

Now entering its ninth year, the Big Sur Fashion Show 2017 theme is
“In Your Dreams”
Please consider joining us this year with a personal or business sponsorship?

Your sponsorship is not only an opportunity to generate focused attention for your business to an ever-growing, devoted fan base, but directly supports, in a one-of-a-kind-way, an event that beautifully delivers a grassroots arts program to all ages, serves as a leadership development platform for community members, and supports a vibrant, joyful arts community in Big Sur and the Monterey Peninsula. (You will also get some great perks with your sponsorship!)
Below some of our sponsors from previous years – ADD YOURS TO THIS GROUP! THANKS!

THANK YOU SPONSORS!!!
NEWS UPDATES!

The Big Sur Fashion Show is saved (!) = one down!

But what about the Library itself stuck on the south side of the Bridge!?

We are working on ways to cope and will let you know as soon as we know.
At the moment we are scrambling to get our bearings and to engage in the
immediate concerns of the neighborhood. Please stay tuned!

Henry Miller Memorial Library | 48603 Highway 1 | Big Sur, CA 93920 | henrymiller.org

I knew when I planned to go to Morro Bay today to resupply (even though I was damn well supplied already) that it might be the last time for a long time. As I expected, Mud Creek is worse, despite the glorious weeks of sunshine. On the way home, I saw this:

There was another truck with a whole bunch MORE gates in back. I stopped to talk to the guys putting up the gates, and they referred me to the guy back a ways, so I backed up on the empty road and talked to him. He told me they were doing the same thing on the north side of Mud Creek, and again on both sides of Paul’s Slide. I tried to ask more questions, but all he would say is that the information would come from Susana, and that we would have 3 days notice. On the way home, I thought, hmmm… there will be a notice from Susana when I get home, and these will go be closed on Tuesday – three days from today.

This was one of two emails waiting for me when I finally got everything put away:

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 will open to the public on Monday, March 20.
· Public access on SR 1, using Nacimiento-Fergusson, will be to Gorda (PM 10) to the south, and to Limekiln State Park (PM 20) to the north each day between 6 am and 7 pm starting Monday, March 20.
· Residents will continue to have access between Ragged Point and the Big Sur Deli between 6 am and 7 pm starting Monday, March 20, as four gates will close the roadway overnight to store construction equipment used during the day, 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 (between 7 pm and 6 am).
· RESIDENTS ARE ENCOURAGED TO RESUPPLY GOING THROUGH PAUL’S SLIDE ON MONDAY, MARCH 20, AS IT MAY BE THE LAST DAY FOR A COUPLE OF WEEKS.

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 6 am and 7 pm.

Paul’s Slide (PM 21.6):
· For Monday’s opportunity to resupply, access is limited to vehicles weighing 50,000 lbs., with a maximum vehicle length of 30 feet. There is a flagger at Ragged Point checking I.D.’s for residents and allowing delivery vehicles through.
· The school bus will be allowed to cross Paul’s Slide through Monday between 6 am and 7 pm.
· As mentioned yesterday, roadway reestablishment at Paul’s slide will require full closure.
· During this construction at Paul’s slide, residents will have limited access—possibly a half-hour window in the morning and the evening—but unfortunately, the school bus and resupply/deliveries will not be allowed to pass at any time.
· Work will performed 24/7 as conditions allow, and updates will continue to be provided.

IMPORTANT NOTE – CALTRANS PFEIFFER CYN. BRIDGE (PM 45.5):
· DUE TO EXTREME SAFETY CONCERNS AND THE BRIDGE’S DYNAMIC INSTABILITY, EVERYONE needs to STAY CLEAR and not get within 100 feet of either side of the bridge. This closure will be enforced.

Pfeiffer Canyon Bridge (PM 45.5) Demolition:
Demolition of the bridge continues until complete, the north span (column three) is almost to the ground at this point. I’ve attached a couple of photos.

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

Susana Cruz then followed up with the email:

Hi All –

We want to provide you with a quick update on the current schedule for the three biggest challenges on Highway 1:

Mud Creek (PM 8.9)
· We are in the process of developing a solution at Mud Creek. This slide is finally slowing down, allowing us to safely evaluate.
· We anticipate no public access in April.
· Local access will continue to be restricted to daylight hours and is subject to change.

Paul’s Slide (PM 21.6)
· Work on the permanent repair has begun.
· There will be no public access in April, and the probability of public access in May is low.
· Local access will be limited to two times per day, 6:30-7:00am and 7:30-8:00pm.

Pfeiffer Canyon Bridge (PM 45.52)
· We have evaluated all possibilities and a temporary bridge for vehicular or pedestrian access is not feasible due to conflicts it would create during construction.
· We are in the midst of developing a detailed construction schedule.
· With all the information we have today, we believe that the bridge will be open to traffic in six months.

We will continue to look for all opportunities to increase access for both local residents and the public, and will keep you updated as conditions change.

Thank you for all your support and cooperation and we all get through this. We don’t expect any changes in the next few days, so please accept my sincere wishes for you to have an excellent weekend!

I would anticipate and plan on the possibility that these gates will be closed to ALL whenever there is not active work happening, and then, locals may not have access due to interference and dangerous conditions. Given the storms, my guess is that these two trouble spots will be completely closed for part or much of next week.

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:

· Yesterday, we indicated that Friday would be the last day to resupply from the south, but there will be another chance on Monday, March 20th between 10 am and 3 pm.
· Permanent restoration of the road at Paul’s Slide is scheduled to begin next week.
· During this construction at Paul’s slide, residents will have limited access—possibly a half-hour window in the morning and the evening—but unfortunately, the school bus and resupply/deliveries will not be allowed to pass at any time.
· Work will performed 24/7 as conditions allow, and updates will continue to be provided.
· Nacimiento-Ferugson Road might be open to the public within days. An update will be provided as soon as possible.
· RESIDENTS ARE ENCOURAGED TO RESUPPLY TOMORROW, OR MONDAY AT THE LATEST.

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, local access will continue to be allowed.

Paul’s Slide (PM 21.6):
· As noted above, permanent restoration of the road at Paul’s slide will require full closure.
· For Friday’s and Monday’s opportunity to resupply, access is limited to vehicles weighing 50,000 lbs., with a maximum vehicle length of 30 feet. There is a flagger at Ragged Point checking I.D.’s for residents and allowing delivery vehicles through.
· The school bus will be allowed to cross Paul’s Slide through Monday.

IMPORTANT NOTE – CALTRANS PFEIFFER CYN. BRIDGE (PM 45.5):
· DUE TO EXTREME SAFETY CONCERNS AND THE BRIDGE’S DYNAMIC INSTABILITY, EVERYONE needs to STAY CLEAR and not get within 100 feet of either side of the bridge. This closure will be enforced.

Pfeiffer Canyon Bridge (PM 45.5) Demolition:
Demolition of the bridge resumed yesterday and will continue until complete. I’ve attached a couple of photos.

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

ADDITIONAL NOTES:
· Any vehicles that were in the large turn-out just north of Pfeiffer Canyon Bridge have been towed to the large “secure” parking lot at the MAF as of TUESDAY, MARCH 7.

· 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 Friday, March 17 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 or via phone at (831) 796-3092.

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