Day: March 15, 2023

Highway One scheduled to reopen over Pajaro River Bridge

Date:Wednesday, March 15, 2023
District:05 – Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo, Monterey, San Benito, and Santa Cruz Counties
Contact:Kevin Drabinski or Alexa Bertola
Phone:(805) 549-3138 or (805) 549-3237

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

UPDATE #2

HIGHWAY 1 TO REOPEN AFTER

PÁJARO RIVER FLOODING

MONTEREY / SANTA CRUZ COUNTIES – Crews are working to reopen Highway 1 across the Pájaro River later tonight. A team of structural engineers completed assessments and reported that the bridges there can safely accommodate traffic without restriction.

Southbound lanes of Highway 1 are expected to open later this evening and northbound lanes are estimated to reopen by tomorrow morning.

Construction crews are clearing debris and making final checks across the north and southbound bridges in advance of this reopening. The exact timing for the reopening of the bridges will be disseminated on social media as it becomes known.

Travelers on Highway 1 can expect delays and lane closures over the course of the next months as crews work to reconstructeroded embankment material around the bridge supports.

Additional information on traffic closures in support of this reconstruction work will be provided as it becomes available.

Caltrans engineers will continue to monitor the bridges and surrounding roadway over the course of the next months.

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.

Big Sur — South Coast Version: Slip, Sliding Away

North to South starting with about MM 29, which is north of Big Creek Bridge and South of Rat Creek.

Photos by Jon Knigiht

Next we go to MM 22.5, or about 300 yards north of the Hermitage Driveway

This was sent to me today. It is much worse than it was on Sunday, when the one below was taken.

Photo by Ashleigh Seefeldt

Next, about 1/2 mile down the road is Paul’s Slide at MM 22

Next, I bring you Mill Creek Slide at approximately MM 18.4

And finally (only because not one has sent any past this point in the last few days), just south of the Caltrans north gate, or approx MM 10.3

Photo by Ethan Tamborini taken today 3/15

Photo by Michael Handy

These few photos cover 19 miles of road and 5 of the larger slides and or slip outs from the last 4 days. Four of the Five span only 12 miles of coast. Apparently we have another storm coming next week, too. At the time of this writing, weather forecasters are not willing to say if this will be Atmospheric River #12 or just a garden variety storm. (All photos not otherwise attributed are by Caltrans)

Evacuation Order reissued for area of Salians River from San Ardo to San Lucas

The Monterey County Sheriff’s Office has re-issued an Evacuation Order for areas of the Salinas River north of Bradley from San Ardo to San Lucas currently in effect until further notice. The Salinas River in this area is currently at minor flood stage due to increase in flow impacting low lying areas of San Ardo and San Lucas and is being monitored for further increase in flood level. The following zones remain under Evacuation Order: • Zone G-028 • Zone G-033 If you are in the Evacuation Order Zone quickly and calmly evacuate. If it is safe to do so, check with your neighbors to ensure they have been made aware of this alert. If you need animal sheltering, call the SPCA at 831-373-2631. After hours line: 831-646-5534. Monitor local media, social media, and Nixle alerts for updates. Call 2-1-1 for information. Call 9-1-1 only if you have a life-threatening emergency. To view all Evacuation Zones: https://bit.ly/3Za0Xc0 ***