Status of Highway One through Big Sur

Date:	Friday, March 31, 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 #37

WITH REPAIRS UNDERWAY TRAVEL OPPORTUNITES

STILL ABOUND ON THE BIG SUR COAST

MONTEREY / SAN LUIS OBISPO COUNTIES – Highway 1 on the Big Sur coast, convulsed by three months of winter storms, remains closed between Deetjen’s Inn in Monterey County at PM 42.2 and Ragged Point in San Luis Obispo County.

There are three slides south of the northern closure which have limited, one-lane access that can be used by locals to evacuate or resupply. The slides are located just south of Torre Canyon Bridge at PM 39.5, just south of Esalen at PM 32.5, and farther south at PM 29.5. Passage through these three slides is not open to the traveling public as they are intended as evacuation routes. Estimates on the full reopening of the highway through these three slides will be available in coming days.

There are currently three sites on Highway 1 which are not traversable by vehicle traffic.

Dani Creek Slide at PM 22.6

Assessments continue at Dani Creek which is located immediately north of Paul’s Slide. Once decisions on a repair strategy have been finalized, crews will have a better estimate of when the highway might reopen at this washout.

Paul’s Slide at PM 21.7

This winter’s largest slide has completely covered the roadway and will require the removal of some 500,000 cubic yards of slide material. It is difficult at present to estimate the reopening of Highway 1 at Paul’s Slide. Washouts to the north at Dani Creek and to the south at Gilbert’s Slide pose logistical challenges to the repair efforts here. An estimate for the reopening of Highway 1 at Paul’s Slide should become clearer in several weeks as repairs advance at other slide areas.

Gilbert’s Slide at PM 10.6

Repairs began yesterday at Gilbert’s Slide, just north of Gorda in Monterey County. These repairs are estimated to take at least two months. Depending on the footprint of the excavation work at Gilbert’s, it may not be possible for vehicles to pass through for the duration of these repairs. However, we will continue to explore every opportunity to provide access to locals through the repair area as conditions allow.

There are also additional areas of concern on Highway 1 south of Gilbert’s Slide. Redwood Gulch at PM 5.8 is presenting with embankment erosion and a compromised culvert. Additionally, three locations are showing cracks and settling in the southbound lane. These include Radio Point at PM 4.9, at PM 0.8 where a temporary signal system is already in place, and at County Line at PM 0.1. Locals who move within the closure area between Ragged Point and Gilbert’s Slide should travel with caution when passing through each of these areas. 

It should be noted that the Big Sur coast experience is still available for travelers. Many beautiful miles of highway stretch on the south coast with communities such as Morro Bay, Cambria, San Simeon, and the Ragged Point Inn itself, welcome and open for business.

The same is true for the traveler who can take in the spectacular sights and make large inroads from Monterey and Carmel deep into the heart of this scenic byway.

Caltrans and contracted crews, except during rain events, will work seven days a week to make all necessary repairs, reduce the closure limits, and eventually reopen the entire length of the Big Sur coast.

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.

CHP Traffic Incident Information Page: http://cad.chp.ca.gov

Traveler information at: https://quickmap.dot.ca.gov/

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Kevin Drabinski

Public Information Officer

Caltrans District 5