Great shots, Kyle!!

I thought you might like to see this non-technical explanation about what CT is doing at the bridge from Kyle Evans:
I apologize everyone for the delay. I got home and had dinner then spent time with the family. Finally everyone is in bed so now I can start to work on my photos and video from today and offer this explanation.

A big Thank you to the Carmel PineCone who facilitates me being able to be there to take photos. And a big Thank you to the CalTrans guys who are so accommodating to me answering questions and helping keep me safe while I take pictures.

Disclaimer: I am not an engineer and this is my best interpretation of what I saw and the information given to me by the CalTrans engineers that I was talking to.

The bridge is coming down. It isn’t violent or quick however when it reaches that tipping point it will go quickly. The big drop that you saw in my first photo happened quickly after about 10 or so hits when they broke the seam between the north most section and the middle section.

A little bit about the bridge construction. This will be relevant to why they are demolishing it this way.

This bridge was built in pieces. First they made the foundations, then the columns, then they formed and poured the bottom of the bridge. Once that was done they formed and poured support ridges running the length of the bridge but in order to save on weight and materials the majority of the bridge is hollow. Then they formed and poured the top deck of the bridge. They couldn’t get the wood back out of the interior of the bridge so that part of the form stayed.

Over each column instead of being hollow they made the bridge solid concrete. This helps strengthen the bridge and its connection to the columns.

This construction of the bridge effects how they hit it, where they hit it, and how hard they hit it.

Another piece of relevant information is there is no safety quick release on the wrecking ball.

Lastly they are very carefully trying to get the bridge to fall uphill away from the park, away from the steepest part of the canyon and away from the power poles that are very close to the bridge. The power poles by the way are why they can’t swing the ball in from one side and the desire to get the bridge to fall uphill is why they don’t swing in from the other side. Straight up and down is the name of the game.

Going back to the bridge construction. If they hit over the solid concrete parts the ball seems to do very little visible damage and bounces off the bridge but it is deceptive because that allows the majority of that force to transfer down into the foundation of the bridge and does more to move the bridge and shift it towards its tipping point. It also does more damage to the column under the bridge. When they hit over the solid part chunks were flying off the bottom of the bridge.

When they hit the hollow part of the bridge it does more damage visibly but does less to get closer to the end goal.

This is why they are not dropping the ball from a very high point. If they dropped the ball from too high and missed the solid part of the bridge they run the risk of punching a hole through the upper deck and if that happened the ball might get stuck in the bridge completely. Without a safety quick release there would be no way to get the wrecking ball or the crane unstuck.

Also they don’t want to do to much all at once because if the bridge shifted in the wrong direction from a hit they want to be able to correct this action.

While I was there they were hitting around 10 times then surveying the bridge then making recommendations on where to hit then adjusting the hit location.

In addition to that while they are surveying to figure out where to hit next the crane operator has to swing the wrecking ball out over the canyon and lower it down to unspool the wire. Over time the wire becomes crossed and not spooled correctly because it is going in and out rapidly. This has to be corrected or the whole thing could bind up. They unspool into the canyon then slowly bring the ball back up making sure that the wire re-spools properly.

There is a spotter on top of the crane at all times communicating with the crane operator about the status of the spool.

While I was there they focused first on breaking the deck surface between the north most section and the middle section of the bridge. They did not cut the rebar between these two sections because they want the weight of the north section to help pull the middle section of the bridge down. Then after that they started hitting the bridge on the uphill side as close to the railing as they could directly over the north column.

This was causing the column to sink further into the hill and lean more and more uphill. The bridge should fall that direction if that operation is successful.

They are hoping that the bridge will not go more than one more day like this. Judging based on the north most section and how much it moved suddenly they could be dropping the ball on it for the better part of a day with very little visual change when suddenly the bridge will give way and collapse. We just don’t know exactly how it will play out right now.

Hopefully when it finally does go it falls in the way they want that will make clean up easier, and it falls in a way that is safe for all of the workers and machinery involved.

I also found out more details about the part that had failed before. First they dropped the height of the crane arm by about half. Second the crane had a specialized part that would allow it to drop a weight in free fall. This part had never been utilized before. The CalTrans engineer described it as being like having a 4 wheel drive vehicle that you never used 4 wheel drive in before. Then when you go to use it you realize that it is broken. That is what happened with this part. So they had to order a replacement part and have a crane engineer install it and make sure it was functioning.

Now they are up and running. This operation is very dangerous to the crane operator and quite hard on the crane.

This is a much more precise operation than I ever imagined and there are so many variables involved.

I will try to get more information tomorrow and I will try to get my photos and video from today processed before I pass out.

I hope people find this very long winded explanation interesting or at least informative.

bigsurkate

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

· The last opportunity, for a yet to be determined amount of time, for residents from south of Pfeiffer Canyon Bridge to “resupply” using Highway 1 is tentatively scheduled for Friday, March 17th between 10 am and 3 pm, but we will inform of any additional opportunities. This is because work is tentatively scheduled to begin at Paul’s Slide on Monday, March 20th to remove the slide material on the slope and realign the highway.
· If construction begins at Paul’s Slide Monday, March 20th, 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.
· 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 THIS WEEK.

Mud Creek (PM 8.9):
The roadway continues to deteriorate as slide activity continues daily. It is very likely that the roadway through Mud Creek will close to non-residents on Monday, March 20th.

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 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 last opportunity for resupply is tentatively scheduled for Friday, March 17th between the hours of 10 am and 3 pm, but we will inform of any future opportunities.
· The school bus will be allowed to cross Paul’s Slide through this weekend.

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:
Yesterday, modifications to the crane were not effective in improving the force of the wrecking ball on impact. A crane technician is on site today to help the project team find a solution to achieve the necessary force or energy. There is no demolition planned for today, but as soon as the crane and wrecking ball will be effective, work will resume immediately.

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 Thursday, March 16 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
G

March 15, 2017

Daily trail progress update.

Trail work continued today as did progress. CCC crews rotated out / in successfully. There were 8 volunteers today led by Fire Brigade FF Trey Kropp and CERT leader Hal Latta.

The work and progress on the trail will be reevaluated daily.

The hard closure is still in place during trail construction.

The below statistics provided by State Parks.

Total Trail tread completed today: 70 linear feet

Total number of workers on trail: 12 CCC, 10 volunteers, 5 DPR

· 28 Wood crib steps have been completed

· 1450 sq. feet of site rehabilitation performed

· 400 linear feet of lumber transported to work site.

· 139 cubic feet of soil excavated for switchback construction

Brent Marshall, Martha Karstens, Gerry Malais Unified Command

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Carissa Chappellet is helping out on the Pfeiffer Canyon bypass trail and has created a website where you can volunteer. If you are a Big Sur local/resident and would like to help you can sign up on this website.
https://teamup.com/ks6sdfo55nyupteyot

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From the Health Center:

Big Sur Health Center update – Wednesday, March 15th.

The next scheduled medication delivery by helicopter is for Friday, March 17th.

Please contact us by Thursday , March 16th, at 1:00 pm if you wish to have your medications on Friday’s flight.

We will provide updates periodically as transport schedules are determined.

March 14, 2017

Daily trail progress update.

More progress was made again today on the access trial work. Many more steps were completed in addition to continual work on the actual trail.

There was an incident on the trail today that involved unauthorized use of trail that compromised the safety of the trail crew. The subject was trying to gain access to Post Ranch for work during hard closure. Subject was on the north side a few switchbacks up the new trail. Subject was contacted by a State Park Peace Officer and was asked to respect closure. Per witness statement, Subject threw a duffel bag down and stated short cut. The bag weighed an approximate 40 lbs. and was loaded with metal tools. Subject was issued a citation for violation of PC 409.5 (c) entering a disaster area. Subject was released without further incident

Gerry Malais, Monterey County OES, and Larry Notheis, Region 2 Director of the CCCs, toured the trail today.

Caltrans will eventually need the pullout at the south east side of the Pfeiffer Canyon Bridge cleared for construction. Caltrans will give advance notice and the southern access to the trail will not be impacted by this future use.

Thank you to CCC crew from Monterey Bay Center, Watsonville. This crew will time out tomorrow, 3/15/17 at 1200 hrs. They will be immediately replaced by a CCC crew from San Luis Obispo.

Here are updated statistics provided by State Parks.
Total Trail tread completed today: 237 linear feet
Total heavy brushing completed: 1539 linear feet
Total light brushing completed: 778 linear feet
Total number of workers on trial: 13 CCC, 10 volunteers, 5 DPR
· 15 Wood crib steps have been completed

Trail crew lead recommends a hard closure of the trail on Wednesday, March 15th. Excavated retaining wall site and 3 step sections pose significant risk to public and can be damaged by unnecessary use.
Brent Marshall, Martha Karstens, Gerry Malais – Unified Command

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Part of today’s Cal Trans Update, most of the rest is old, and repetitive, and it is getting more and more confusing, but this re Paul’s Slide is the latest, and it all changes again, next week:

**Paul’s Slide (PM 21.6) 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 locals and allowing delivery vehicles through. The next opportunity for resupply will be Wednesday, March 15 and Friday, March 17 between the hours of 10 am and 3 pm each day. LOCALS ARE ENCOURAGED TO RESUPPLY THROUGH THIS WEEK. Slide removal and highway realignment at Paul’s Slide is scheduled to begin next Monday, March 20 and may require limited local access for an undetermined amount of time.

***************************************************************

March 14, 2017 from John Lindsey, SLO Meterologist:

“It appears that a trough of low pressure will develop over California. Consequently, the jet stream will drop southward toward the Central Coast and will produce increasing southerly winds and rain as a low pressure system moves into the Central Coast Monday night into next Tuesday. This system will be followed by a couple more storms over
the rest of next week.”

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March 13, 2017

Daily trail progress update.

More progress was made again today on the access trial work. Many more steps were completed in addition to continual work on the actual trail. There were 10 volunteers mostly from Ventana today led by Fire Brigade Engineer Rayner Marx. He said quite a bit of wood was also carried up today for tomorrows work.

Approximately 1/2 of the trial has been put in already. The top part of the trail was looking even better.

The Fire Brigade staffed a water tender with Jess Mason and Hubbs Hubback on the south side today for fire suppression

The work and progress on the trail will be reevaluated daily. The hard closure is still in place during trail construction.
The below statistics on the trail are provided by State Parks.

Total Trail tread completed: 739 linear feet
Total Trail tread completed today: 167 linear feet
Total heavy brushing completed: 1539 linear feet
Total light brushing completed: 778 linear feet
Total number of workers on trail: 13 CCC, 9 volunteers, 4 DPR
· 11 Wood crib steps have been completed

Brent Marshall, Martha Karstens, Gerry Malais – Unified Command

***************************************************************

For Big Sur residents south of the bridge who need to get rid of accumulated trash, there will be a large dumpster delivered to Kirk Creek Campground tomorrow morning. Should be in place by noon. Thanks to the efforts of Kurt Mayer.

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CALTRANS
HIGHWAY 1 UPDATE
MARCH 13, 2017

***LATEST UPDATE AS OF 7:00 PM***

Estimated opening of Highway One north of Pfeiffer Canyon Bridge will now be Tuesday, March 14 by 5 pm.

NEW INFORMATION BOLD AND UNDERLINED

NOTE: Please realize that this schedule is not set in stone and conditions or unforeseen challenges may necessitate the work schedule to take a different direction or cease at times.
***********************************************
Multi-Agency Facility (MAF-PM 46.35)
This is currently the “turn around” point for the public. The facility offers a large turn around area. A pending question for discussion is public access to Pfeiffer Beach and Sycamore Cyn. Road (PM 45.64) just north and really close to the soon-to-be-demolished Pfeiffer Canyon Bridge. This site was evaluated this afternoon, March 13 by State Parks, Big Sur Fire Brigade, OES, Forest Service, CHP, locals and Caltrans. It was concurred that the MAF be the “turn around” point. Caltrans Construction and Maintenance will perform final prep work and CHP will relocate the northern closure (currently jso of Palo Colorado) to the MAF. State Route will re-open to the public tomorrow, Tuesday, March 14 by 5 pm. All business north of the closure will be open.

SR-1 FULL CLOSURE CONTINUES–RAGGED PT (SLO PM 72.87) TO JUST SOUTH OF PALO COLORADO (PM 61.5) WITH NEXT OPPORTUNITY FORRESUPPLY/DELIVERY ON WEDNESDAY, MARCH 15 AND FRIDAY, MARCH 17 BETWEEN 10 AM AND 3 PM EACH DAY**.

**Deliveries to Big Sur were made today, Monday, March 13. The stabilized roadway at Paul’s Slide (PM 21.6) 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 locals and allowing delivery vehicles through. The next opportunity for will be Wednesday, March 15 and Friday, March 17 between the hours of 10 am and 3 pm each day. Delivery vehicles can head both north and south unescortedbetween 10 am and 3 pm.

Locals only are recommended to travel from 7 am to 7 pm, due to continued slide activity, between Ragged Pt. and the Big Sur Deli with local I.D. until further notice.

The school bus also continues to be allowed to cross Paul’s Slide until further notice.

*IMPORTANT NOTE – CALTRANS PFEIFFER CYN. BRIDGE (PM 45.5) UPDATE:
· 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 Demolition
The crane, in its current configuration, will not free fall the wrecking ball with the required force needed. New parts have been ordered and should arrive tomorrow. Depending on the delivery and assembly, another attempt will take place at a later date; possibly as early as Wednesday morning, March 15.

IMPORTANT NOTE: Any remaining vehicles 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.

· Drilling continues and Caltrans geotechnical and bridge experts from around the state are working as quickly as possible toward the bridge replacement. Drilling investigation findings are targeted for Friday, March 17.

· On the maintenance side, Caltrans is continuing to make progress with the slides to regain as much access from the south as possible. We are also working to keep the roadway passable from the north to just north of the Pfeiffer Canyon Bridge—for locals only. Hwy. 1 is scheduled to open to the public from Carmel and north, to the Multi-Agency Facility (MAF PM 46.35) tomorrow, Tuesday, March 15 by 5:00 PM

*BUSINESSES REMAIN OPEN*

Locals may travel in a truck, SUV or van 7:00AM – 7:00 PM
1) between Ragged. Pt. and Big Sur Deli (PM 45.3) and
2) between just north of Pfeiffer Cyn Bridge and Carmel.

Another update regarding the Highway 1 Big Sur Coast will be provided around mid-day on Tuesday, March 14 or sooner if conditions change.

NOTE: I WILL PUBLISH THE PHOTOS I TOOK OF MUD CREEK TODAY TOMORROW MORNING.

Over the weekend, Mud Creek developed a new trick – it is no longer just oozing mud and gushing water. It is now dropping rocks. Those working on it, contract and Cal Trans could not safely get to their loader to begin work this morning. When we went through, there were two spotters just watching for falling rocks. The pavement is still dropping significantly, compared to my last trip through. John Lindsay, SLO meterologist is predicting the return of rain on 3/22-3/28, so this, as well as Paul’s Slide, could become more difficult again.

I am tired of Fires and Floods – Disappearing Roads and Collapsing Bridges. I am taking a day off. From prior posts, I offer you beauty:

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

All photos by bigsurkate or Dan Danbom.

Hi Kate,
I attended (with my field rep Toby Uptain-Villa) an emergency trail construction briefing this morning at the Pfeiffer Bridge bypass project. We joined State Parks Superintendent Brent Marshall, Chief Martha Karstens (Big Sur Volunteer Fire Brigade), business owner Basil Sanborn (Glen Oaks/Roadhouse), and community volunteers from Ventana Inn, Post Ranch, and others. The community volunteers have been integrated into the State Parks and California Conservation Corps worker teams to build a safe and passable trail. The terrain is steep with about a 600 foot elevation change. Falling rocks present a hazard to workers while weather conditions are perfect for strong progress on the trail.
Cal Trans will begin demolition of the Pfeiffer Bridge on Monday and community leaders are working with Cal Trans, Parks, and CHP to identify the best turn around points at the north end in anticipation of Hiway One reopening between Monterey and Big Sur (north) soon.
Thank you for your daily updates and information… so valuable to the community and all of us working to restore safe access for all.
Attached some photos FYI.
Warmly,
Senator Bill Monning

By Kurt Mayer, of course.