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.

This one about 1/2 mile north of Partington Ridge Rd. First shot, last night by Jon Knight. Second shot this am by Tess Melora. I have no idea about the dimensions of this thing, and no estimate for getting it cleared up.

More photos of the Dani Creek slip out just north of the Hermitage, Paul’s Slide, and the slip out in front of Caltrans. All taken and sent to me throughout the day today. North to South Again:

Dani Creek:

Paul’s Slide

In front of Cal Trans

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.

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)

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 ***

Date:	Tuesday, March 14, 2023, at 8:05 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 or (805) 549-3237

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

UPDATE: HIGHWAY 1 REOPENED NEAR CARMEL

AS TREES AND WIRES CLEARED

MONTEREY COUNTY – Highway 1 has reopened between Spindrift Road in Carmel and Andrew Molera State Park after crews cleared multiple trees and removed down power lines.

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.

Date:	Tuesday, March 14, 2023, at 6:30 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 or (805) 549-3237

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

FULL OVERNIGHT CLOSURE OF HIGHWAY 1 IN EFFECT NEAR CARMEL

DUE TO DOWNED TREES AND WIRES

MONTEREY COUNTY – A full overnight closure of Highway 1 is in effect due storm damage that has resulted in downed trees and power lines.

Highway 1 will remain closed overnight between Spindrift Road in Carmel and Andrew Molera State Park.

This is a hard closure and is expected to last overnight. Downed trees and power lines pose a significant risk. Strong winds in the area continue to be a concern. Crews will be working overnight, and an update will be provided as soon as the roadway reopens.

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.

Date:	Tuesday, March 14, 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 #1

CLOSURE STILL IN PLACE ON HIGHWAY 1

DUE TO PÁJARO FLOODING

MONTEREY / SANTA CRUZ COUNTIES – Highway 1 remains closed from Salinas Road, one mile south the Monterey/Santa Cruz County line, to Hwy. 129 (Riverside Drive) in Watsonville in Santa Cruz County. There is no estimated time for reopening.

Water from the Pájaro River breached a levee 4.7 miles upstream of Highway 1. Flooding from this breach overflowed the highway on Sunday March 12 which led to its closure. Water from this breach continues to be of concern as it surrounds Highway 1 and the bridges at the Pájaro River. 

Highway 1 crosses the Pájaro River by means of two bridges, one in the northbound and one in the southbound direction. As they cross the river, the bridges pass over two levee embankments, one to the south on the Monterey County side, and one on the Santa Cruz County side of the river. The Pájaro River flows between these two levee embankments. 

Water flow from the upstream levee breach has eroded embankment material around the bridge supports exposing foundation piles.

The Pájaro River Bridges are stable. The bridge supports at this location extend into the ground to a depth of over 80 feet.

However, before Highway 1 can reopen, assessments of the bridges will have to be made to determine their load capacity and whether or not any weight restrictions need to be applied as a result of the loss of embankment material around the support structures. Engineers are continuing to monitor the bridges. 

At present there is no estimated time for reopening.

A detour is in place. Travelers on northbound Hwy. 1 may take Hwy. 156 east to the US 101 and travel north before taking Hwy. 129 west back to the coast. The reverse of this travel direction would be the detour for southbound travelers.

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.

Per the CHP. I have heard of issues at Pt Lobos, Yankee Point, and the Highlands. Stay off the roads if at all possible.

“The roadway is closed at this time along Highway 1 at Carmel River Bridge for travel southbound. Due to several active incidents regarding trees down and wires across the roadway. Drive carefully!”

To monitor state routes use Caltrans Quickmaps: https://quickmaps.dot.ca.gov