Highway 1 Updates by Caltrans for Big Sur

Date:	Thursday, March 16, 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 #31

ASSESSMENTS ON HIGHWAY 1 CONTINUE AT AREAS

DAMAGED BY MOST RECENT STORMS

MONTEREY / SAN LUIS OBISPO COUNTIES – Highway 1 on the Big Sur coast remains closed from Ragged Point in San Luis Obispo County to just south of Deetjen’s Inn in Monterey County due to slides and rockfall from winter storm events. 

This is an overview of larger road damage issues associated with recent storm events. Crews have cleared dozens of smaller slides and repaired and cleared culverts. Updates on estimated times for reopening of each of these sites will be provided as that information becomes available. 

Highway 1 at PM 39.5

Crews responded to a slide which appeared today just south of the Torre Canyon Bridge.

Highway 1 at PM 22.6

Crews continue to assess this slip out at Dani Creek located between the entrance to the Hermitage and the town of Lucia.

Highway 1 at PM 22 to 22.4

Paul’s Slide is set for a long-term closure. As weather conditions permit, crews will begin to bring down an estimated 500,000 cubic yards of material, sculpt and stabilize the slope, and repair the roadway.

Highway 1 at PM 10.6

This failure of the highway is located just north of the town of Gorda.

Highway 1 at PM 9.1

Repairs to a slide at the north end of Mud Creek will include debris removal, slope stabilization, and the replacement of protective netting. A boulder the size of a shipping container sits on slide material just above the roadway.

The repairs made this winter at Mill Creek Slide at PM 18 held up well during recent rain events as did repairs at the Polar Star Slide, one mile south of Ragged Point.

Updates on estimated times for reopening of each of the damaged areas above will be provided as that information becomes available.

Caltrans and contracted crews will continue to work all daylight hours, seven days a week, to move forward with these repairs.

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.