Highway 1 fully opened

Wednesday, December 15, 2021 at 2:35 pm
District:	05 – Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo, Monterey, San Benito, and Santa Cruz Counties
Contact:	Kevin Drabinski or Jim Shivers
Phone:	(805) 549-3138 or (805) 549-3237

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

HIGHWAY 1 ON THE BIG SUR COAST

TO OPEN TODAY AT 3 PM

MONTEREY / SAN LUIS OBISPO COUNTIES – Caltrans announced today that Highway 1 on the Big Sur Coast will completely reopen Wednesday Dec. 15 at 3 pm.

Initial progress on clearing and repair of the rockfall system at Cow Cliffs (PM 28.2) and slide and debris removal at Paul’s Slide (PM 22), have advanced to a point where crews can effect these repairs with the roadway fully reopened.

Travelers should expect traffic control at these locations today until 5 pm, and during daylight hours for the next several days, and potentially into the weekend, as crews continue emergency repairs to prepare for next week’s storms. Caltrans entered into a $1.3 million emergency contract on Dec. 14 with Papich Construction to complete this roadwork.

A full closure of Highway 1 extending from Ragged Point in San Luis Obispo County to Deetjen’s Big Sur Inn in Monterey County (44.6 miles) began Dec. 12 in support of a Monterey County evacuation warning and at the request of the CHP in advance of a forecasted storm event. This closure was continued as crews assessed damage from the storm which brought rains of up to 12 inches in 24 hours at some mountain peaks.

Travelers are reminded give themselves extra time when driving this winter and to take into account weather conditions, especially when traveling on this scenic byway.

For traffic updates on other state highways in Monterey and San Luis Obispo Counties, travelers may contact Caltrans District 5 Public Affairs at 805-549-3318 or can visit the District 5 website at: https://dot.ca.gov/caltra

Highway 1 at “Cow Cliffs” emergency repair.