Cal Trans Update #2 on Highway 1 closure

Date:	Sunday, January 1, 2023, 3:15 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      (805) 549-3237

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

UPDATE #2

 HIGHWAY 1 ON THE BIG SUR COAST TO REMAIN CLOSED

THROUGH MONDAY FOR CONTINUED STORM CLEANUP

MONTEREY / SAN LUIS OBISPO COUNTIES – The current full closure of Highway 1 from Ragged Point in San Luis Obispo County to 2.5 miles south of Big Sur in Monterey County is scheduled to remain in effect at least through Monday Jan. 2.

Crews are attempting to complete cleanup from recent storm activity prior to the arrival of storms forecast to arrive as soon as Wednesday of this week.

Contracted crews will be clearing debris from Paul’s Slide during daylight hours today and tomorrow. The gates at both ends of Paul’s Slide will be closed again this evening at 4:30 pm.

Caltrans maintenance crews are clearing blocked or partially blocked lanes at 15 locations from Ragged Point to Paul’s Slide, at 13 locations from Paul’s Slide to Rat Creek, and at 21 locations from Rat Creek to the northern closure 2.5 miles south of Big Sur.

This is in addition to additional cleanup of slides on Hwy. 1 both north and south of the closure parameters.

Assessments today did indicate that culverts were open and flowing in areas below the Dolan Fire burn scar. Additionally, despite scores of slides, there was no evidence of slip outs below the roadway, only the cleanup of soil, rocks, and trees, which have come down from above the roadway.

Updates on possible roadway reopening or movement of the closure parameters will be made when that information becomes available.

Debris behind catchment area at Paul’s Slide, Jan. 1, 2023

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Kevin Drabinski

Public Information Officer