I have been going back through blog posts from the last Rocky Creek Slip out from 13 years ago to see how long it took to get the road passable. Let’s begin at the beginning. March 16, 2011. Big Sur was cut off from the north. It wouldn’t be long before a slide at Alder Creek cut off Big Sur to the South. Nacimiento was the only way out — until the slide at Limekiln cut off that route as well. It was an incredibly dynamic March that year.
This is the day it happened: https://bigsurkate.blog/2011/03/16/road-closed/ Read all about it and see the photos people shared.
March 24, 2011, 8 days after the road slipped out, Caltrans closed it to all traffic — foot and pedestrian so they could drill for 250 soil nails. People had been able to traverse it to get out or back in some days that week. “CHP will be on site 24/7 starting today so no foot traffic until further notice. There will be another meeting on the 29th at 1:00 p.m. and a decision on foot traffic will be made then. ” https://bigsurkate.blog/2011/03/23/report-on-meeting-with-cal-trans-about-closure/ See my blog for photos and further.
By March 29, 2011, pedestrian crossing was allowed only twice a day. “one report out of today’s meeting is Ped access starting tomorrow. 7:00 am and again at 4PM only until the last pedestrian in line AT THAT TIME is across. Escorted. The second important piece of information is that it is looking like a one lane opening will not happen in the middle of the month, closer to the end. Also, there will be a weight restriction of 5 tons, which will heavily impact the businesses and campgrounds. Further, this one lane with weight restriction could be in place for up to a year.” See blog post here for more info and photos. https://bigsurkate.blog/2011/03/29/tuesdays-news-views/
The permanent viaduct construction did not begin until September of 2012. For the first press release about this and the overnight closures see: http://bigsurkate.blog/2012/09/28/rocky-creek-viaduct-closure-press-release-number-1/
Here are two photos sent to me by Ben Grasmuck, CHP, retired, who was working highway 1 in Big Sur, and his comment that he left on this post after the photos.
Ben’s comment:
“A lot happened in the months after the slide. Officer Mike Hamilton and I alternated living down there at the MAF for a month. It was one of the busiest months I ever spent on the Highway Patrol and i didn’t write a ticket, work a traffic collision or arrest anyone. I look back on it very fondly, I spent a month helping people and that was pretty much it. It was a busy month. ”
On March 16, 2011, twelve miles south of Carmel, California, the southbound lane of Highway 1
sustained a catastrophic failure when part of the roadway suddenly collapsed into the Pacific Ocean. This year, Saturday, March 30th, the day before Easter, the southbound land of Highway 1 slid into the ocean. The mountains and Mother Nature keep sending us a message.
And there you have the history of the 2011 Rocky Creek slip-out. It should help you make plans and understand whatI MIGHT happen again, this time around.
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A lot happened in the months after the slide. Officer Mike Hamilton and I alternated living down there at the MAF for a month. It was one of the busiest months I ever spent on the Highway Patrol and i didn’t write a ticket, work a traffic collision or arrest anyone. I look back on it very fondly, I spent a month helping people and that was pretty much it. It was a busy month.
Ben Grasmuck
California Highway Patrol (retired)
Despite the excellent photos and history, I'm having a difficult time understanding what is going on. For one thing, I didn't know that crib walls were suitable for that kind of situation (holding back lateral forces). See: https://theconstructor.org/geotechnical/retaining-wall-types-use/24566/ Scroll down to "Crib Retaining Walls."
I'm in sympathy with engineers. They are often asked to do the impossible, but when it comes to money, they are often "bound and gagged". A cantilevered roadway, like the one in the Great Smoky Mountains national park, might be an initially expensive and time-consuming "solution," but that is for the engineers to decide, not me--context is everything and I "know" only what I can see (and I don't believe half of that). Note the stretch of Hwy 1 just south of the Rocky Creek failures . . . Could it be that there are only a few contractors who could meet the requirements and they aren't the "right" ones? Naw . . .
Kate, thanks very much for this retrospective with photos and info. It's illuminating to see the process. And guestimate what it may take timewise going forward. Marveling again that Hwy 1 even exists, given Nature's disdain.
I've been holding my breath that it stays open from the south, so can only imagine how you all must feel! Having gotten the very difficult challenge of a Kirk Creek reservation starting April 14th, I'm crossing fingers and toes and legs and whatever else, in hopes I'll be able to be there this year.
Maura
That's a big boo boo!