Highway Closure Update, 10/23/17

Photos of Mud Creek (PM 8.9), Cow Cliffs (PM 28.35) and Pfeiffer Canyon Bridge (PM 45.52)

HIGHWAY 1 UPDATE – Monday, Oct. 23

REMINDER: The State Route 1 closure, due to Mud Creek slide, has moved from its current location north of Salmon Creek, just south of the Ranger Station (Mon. Co. PM 3) to just north of Ragged Point (SLO Co. PM 72.87) for the Elephant Trunk Drainage modification. The closure location change took place today, Monday, Oct. 23 at 6 am until Friday, Oct. 27 at 3 pm. Salmon Creek will not have public access this week.

The drainage modification is necessary at the recently completed Elephant Trunk Soldier Pile Wall project and consists of welding, hoisting and anchoring the drainage pipe on the hillside. This roadwork should be completed by 3 pm on Friday, Oct. 27, weather permitting.
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Mud Creek (PM 8.9)
Mud Creek had a major slide on Saturday, May 20, 2017, losing over 5 million cubic yards of material. Caltrans continues with its plan to realign the existing terrain. The projected timeline to safely open to public traffic is late-summer 2018 at an estimated cost of $40 million.

There is currently no public access through the Mud Creek area since this remains an active, emergency construction zone.

Paul’s Slide (PM 21.6)
Paul’s Slide is still active but the 24/7 traffic signal remains in place and temporary guardrail (k-rail) in the centerline.

Pfeiffer Canyon Bridge [PCB] (PM 45.52)
The new Pfeiffer Canyon Bridge opened on Friday, Oct. 13 at 1:10 pm following a heartfelt community event where dignitaries, media and various agencies were also invited to partake in the ribbon cutting ceremony. Final work will continue for several weeks but Pfeiffer Canyon Bridge now provides access to both locals and the public. There will be some weekdays that will require a lane closure consisting of one-way reversing traffic control.

REMINDER: Travelers still CANNOT access the entire length of Highway 1 from Carmel to Cambria but local businesses are open on both sides of Mud Creek and Pfeiffer Canyon Bridge.