Road Closure & Weather Reports

Today’s Date: February 1, 2019 at 10:15 am

District:            05 – Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo, Monterey, San Benito and Santa

Cruz Counties

Contact:          Susana Z Cruz (bilingual) or Colin Jones

Phone:            (805) 549-3138 or 549-3189

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

**TRAFFIC ADVISORY**

CALTRANS ANNOUNCES TEMPORARY CLOSURE OF HWY. 1 AT MUD CREEK/PAUL’S SLIDE AT 5 PM TODAY

MONTEREY COUNTY — Caltrans has received confirmation from National Weather Service (NOAA) data that a significant storm will reach the areas of Mud Creek (PM 8.9) and Paul’s Slide (PM 21.6) on State Route 1 in the Big Sur area this evening. CHP has requested the southern closure limits to be at Ragged Point (SLO PM 72.87) and the northern limits just south of Deetjen’s/Fuller’s (MON PM 42). The Highway 1 closure, for traveler safety, will include the areas of Mud Creek and Paul’s Slide, closing today, Friday, Feb. 1 at 5 pm until further notice. SEE ATTACHED CLOSURE MAP.

The closure initiation process will begin at 3 PM with Electronic Message Signs activated and both sets of gates (Mud Creek and Paul’s Slide) closed by 5 pm today.  Storm activity is currently forecast through Monday, Feb. 4th.

Businesses along the Big Sur Coast on Hwy. 1 remain open and are accessible via Hwys. 101, 68 and 46.

Caltrans’ Geotech, Maintenance and Construction units are on call and prepared to inspect/clean up when the storm ends during the daylight hours and it is safe to be onsite again—we currently anticipate this to be Monday, Feb. 4th.  Caltrans’ goal is to open the roadway as quickly and safely as possible and our staff remains on-call 24/7.

The gates on either side of Mud Creek and Paul’s Slide will be key locked. These gates will not be manned when the highway is closed and there will be no access to anyone, including Emergency Services or Caltrans employees until a proper assessment can be made and any necessary cleanup has been completed.

NOTE: Both Mud Creek and Paul’s Slide will close today. CHP has requested the closure limits be Ragged Pt. and just south of Deetjens, until further notice. An update will be provided mid-day Monday, Feb. 4th or sooner.

Now for the weather: this one late tonight and tomorrow morning will pack a punch. Snow is expected to drop down to 2,000 feet by Monday am…photos if I can.

Here are some predictions by Dann Cianca: “A strong Pacific Storm will arrive late Friday and hammer us overnight with heavy rain and gusty winds. I think the biggest impact will be the wind with damage likely. With gusts of over 60mph possible, trees will fall, power lines will come…”