Much anticipated announcement, and good news, for a change.

*UPDATE*

Caltrans Continues Efforts to Rebuild and Reopen Highway 1

at Mud Creek

New Estimated Opening Slated for end of July

BIG SUR, MONTEREY COUNTY – As Caltrans continues efforts to rebuild and re-open Highway 1 at Mud Creek, the department has announced a new target date of the end of July for opening the route to all travelers.

Department officials announced last August that a new ¼-mile roadway will traverse the site of the massive Mud Creek landslide.

The new roadway will be realigned across the landslide and will be buttressed with a series of embankments, berms, rocks, netting, culverts and other stabilizing material according to department engineers and geologists. This strategy is allowing Caltrans to rebuild the roadway more quickly and at a lower cost than other alternatives such as structures, a tunnel or major earthwork that puts additional fill into the ocean.

“Rebuilding Highway 1 and restoring traffic along the Big Sur coast has been our priority and by opening the highway sooner than expected, it will boost the many central coast communities affected by this major landslide,” said Caltrans Acting District 5 Director Richard Rosales.

The massive slide occurred on May 20, 2017, dumping more than 6 million cubic yards of material onto the roadway and into the ocean, creating 15 additional acres of coastline, making it the largest one ever along the Big Sur coast.

Caltrans engineers have been working closely with contractor John Madonna to increase rebuild productivity, so this combined with favorable weather and longer days will allow us to open the road sooner than our previous mid-September estimate.

Caltrans is continuously evaluating the opening date as roadwork progresses so we anticipate providing a final update by early July. It’s expected that after the highway opens, intermittent weekday lane closures and roadwork will continue for several months to finalize repairs.

–Photos below—

June 1, 2017

June 3, 2018

Thank you, Mary, for listening to your constituents.

”We are trying to get to the bottom of today’s horrendous traffic situation on State Route 1 south of Carmel. A car accident, shoulder clean up work at the Carmel River Bridge causing drivers to slow and look, increased summer southbound traffic, the Big Little Lies movie trailers at Marathon Flats, and the additional Caltrans work and lane closure at Monastery Beach all contributed to the already impacted construction zone.

In response to today, CalTrans will not be doing any additional work at Monastery this week as had been originally scheduled. They will continue to perform highway pavement maintenance at Otter Cove tomorrow and at Soberanes on Thursday. If you are south of either of these two locations, we recommend getting through these areas before 8 am.

Additionally, there will be filming at Monastery Beach this Thursday, June 14. Caltrans, the permitting agency, has told us the project is not expected to impact traffic flow and will take place on the beach. Parking will be at the meadow adjacent to the Bay School and seven spaces to the north end of the beach.

Our office is continuing to seek ways to expedite the Climbing Lane Construction project. We are urging the county to invest in night work and extended shifts. Please continue to reach out to us with questions. We share your concerns and are working diligently to reduce the impacts of this work. Our office can be reached at 831-647-7755 or by email at district5@co.monterey.ca.us.

Together, we will get through this!”

Between the Rio Rd. Climbing lane construction, and the noticed work at Monastery Beach, traffic NB – going in to Carmel – is backed up to Yankee Point this morning, and it is taking 20 minutes to travel 1 mile, per Rob Wilks who sent this photo just now (11:15 am)

Just a reminder of what I posted two days ago:

Highway 1 – Carmel: June 11 – June 14 
Caltrans will perform highway pavement maintenance on State Route 1 beginning Monday, June 11 – Thursday, June 14. Motorists can expect one-way reversing traffic control from 8 am until 4 pm in the following locations:

• Southbound Hwy. 1 at Carmelite Monastery and Monastery Beach, south of Carmel on Monday, June 11 and Tuesday, June 12.
• Southbound Hwy. 1 at Otter Cove and Arroyo Del Mar, south of Carmel Highlands on Wednesday, June 13.
• Southbound Hwy. 1 at Sobranes and Garrapata State Park, south of Carmel Highlands on Thursday, June 14.

Aerial photo of Mud Creek (PM 8.9) from Sunday, June 3, courtesy of John Madonna. Three pictures of Post Ranch Rockery Repair (PM 44.9) from Friday, June 8.

 HIGHWAY 1 UPDATE – Monday, June 11

State Route 1 in Monterey County remains closed from north of Salmon Creek, just south of the Ranger Station (PM 3) to just south of Gorda (PM 10) due to the Mud Creek slide. State Route 1 south of Salmon Creek is accessible via State Route 1 in San Luis Obispo County near Ragged Point.

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.

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. Caltrans will continuously evaluate the opening date as work progresses so we anticipate providing an update in July. It’s expected that even after the highway is re-open, intermittent lane closures and roadwork may continue. The updated current cost is at $54 million.

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

This week: No change from last week; work continues with the north fill, north cut and north berm with hilfiker retaining wall.

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.

ADDITIONAL WORK—CALPORTLAND PAVING BETWEEN LUCIA (PM 23) AND JUST SOUTH OF PCB (45.52)

Final items continue taking place. Post Ranch rockery repair was completed last week. No work scheduled for this week. Project is near completion.

Caltrans reminds motorists to move over and slow down when driving through highway work zones.

The next update will be on Tuesday, June 19.

TAMC CONE ZONE REPORT                                  

 ROAD AND LANE CLOSURES SCHEDULED FOR JUNE 10 – JUNE 16

MONTEREY COUNTY – Here are the major scheduled road and lane closures for Monterey County from Sunday, June 10 through Saturday, June 16 – Please keep in mind that construction work is weather-dependent.

Highway 1 Storm Repair Along the Big Sur Coast
Due to past slides, State Route 1 is now closed at the Ranger Station North Ragged Point Inn and at Mud Creek.

Highway 1 – Carmel: June 11 – June 14 
Caltrans will perform highway pavement maintenance on State Route 1 beginning Monday, June 11 – Thursday, June 14. Motorists can expect one-way reversing traffic control from 8 am until 4 pm in the following locations:

• Southbound Hwy. 1 at Carmelite Monastery and Monastery Beach, south of Carmel on Monday, June 11 and Tuesday, June 12.
• Southbound Hwy. 1 at Otter Cove and Arroyo Del Mar, south of Carmel Highlands on Wednesday, June 13.
• Southbound Hwy. 1 at Sobranes and Garrapata State Park, south of Carmel Highlands on Thursday, June 14.

There will be electronic message boards alerting the public of these lane closures and traffic control.  The California Highway Patrol (CHP) will be present to ensure a safe environment for everyone.  Motorists can expect delays not to exceed 10 minutes.

Highway 1 Climbing Lane Project: June 11-June 15
There will be reduced truck crossings on Rio Road as construction work continues next week, 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Drivers wishing to avoid the intersection may detour to Carmel Valley Road and Carmel Rancho Boulevard. All business and shopping centers remain open during construction.

Monterey County Resource Management Agency, in partnership with the Monterey County Office of Emergency Services, has announced the creation of a text message alert service for the Highway 1 Climbing Lane Project.

Sign up to receive text message alerts by texting Climbinglane to 888777.

Highway 68 – Monterey: June 11– June 15
One-way traffic control will be in effect for night time vegetation control work along eastbound Highway 68 between Ragsdale Drive and York School Road from 9 p.m. to 5 a.m., Monday – Thursday.

Highway 68 – Salinas River: June 11 – June 15
There will be alternating lane closures on eastbound and westbound Highway 68 between Spreckles Blvd and Reservation Road for bridge work. The work will occur from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., Monday through Friday.

There will be alternating lane closures on eastbound and westbound Highway 68 between Spreckles Blvd and Reservation Road for nighttime bridge work. The work will occur from 7 p.m. to 6:30 a.m., Monday through Thursday.

The onramp for westbound Highway 68 at Spreckles Blvd will be closed for ongoing bridge work between 7 p.m. and 6:30 a.m., Monday through Thursday.

Highway 101 – Salinas: June 12
Daytime repair work along southbound Highway 101 at San Miguel Canyon Road from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., on Tuesday.

Highway 101 – Salinas to the San Benito County Line: June 10 – June 14
Night time striping along northbound Highway 101 between Potter Road and San Juan Road from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m., Sunday through Thursday.

Highway 183 – Salinas: June 11
Daytime utility work along northbound Highway 183 from Lake Street to Salinas from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., on Monday.

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