Caltrans Update, 1/16/23

Date:	Monday, January 16, 2023, at 5:00 p.m.
District:	05 – Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo, Monterey, San Benito, and Santa Cruz Counties
Contact:	Kevin Drabinski or Alexa Bertola
Phone:	(805) 549-3138      (805) 549-3237

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

UPDATE #16

NORTHERN CLOSURE OF HIGHWAY 1 CONDITIONALLY SET TO MOVE 

SOUTH TO LIME CREEK ON TUESDAY JAN. 17 AT 2:00 PM

MONTEREY / SAN LUIS OBISPO COUNTIES – With drier weather in the forecast, Caltrans is planning to move the northern closure limit of Highway 1, from its current location at Deetjen’s Inn (PM 43), south to Lime Creek (PM 32), on Tuesday Jan. 17 at 2 pm.

The scheduled move of the closure is conditional.

The northern limit will move south provided that Tuesday morning inspections of the roadway reveal that the road is safe for the travelling public.

Should morning inspections reveal that the road is safe to travel, the northern limit will move to Lime Creek on Tuesday Jan. 17 at 2 pm, offering additional access to the coast from the north.

Please note that, during forecasted rain events, the closure will be restored to the northern closure point at Deetjen’s.

It is anticipated that a resupply convoy, such as the one that took place on Friday Jan. 13, may be able to be scheduled in the coming days as road and weather conditions permit and crews are able to clear a path.

The road has sustained new damage in several areas which will need to be assessed to determine when a convoy may be viable, and if there may be a necessary reduction in the areas through which the convoy is able to travel. Updates will be provided as these assessments provide more information.

The southern closure of Highway 1 will remain at the elephant seal viewing area, four miles north of San Simeon.

A significant slide, one mile south of Ragged Point, at a location known as Polar Star, extends over both lanes of travel. The highway is impassible at this location and is expected to restrict access to Ragged Point from the south for several weeks to months.

Note: It is not permissible or safe to go across the slide area at Polar Star on foot. The public is asked to refrain from approaching the area surrounding this slide.

With clearing weather, a contractor will be mobilizing at Polar Star tomorrow and technical assessments will continue.

Road information and updates can also be found on Caltrans District 5 Social Media platforms: Twitter at: @CaltransD5, Facebook at: Caltrans Central Coast (District 5) and Instagram at: Caltrans_D5.

Our crews deserve to get home safely too.

Drive slowly and carefully in work zones.