Caltrans Update – Full opening of Highway One expected in late Fall

Date:	Friday, May 24, 2024
District:	05 – Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo, Monterey, San Benito, and Santa Cruz Counties
Contact:	Kevin Drabinski or Jim Shivers
Phone:	(805) 549-3138 or (805) 549-3237

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

UPDATE #6

HIGHWAY 1 SLIDE REPAIRS MAKE PROGRESS WITH FULL OPENING BETWEEN CAMBRIA AND CARMEL ESTIMATED FOR LATE FALL 

MONTEREY COUNTY – With the exception of an 11-mile section where repairs continue seven days a week at three major slides, the remainder of Highway 1 on the Big Sur coast is open to unrestricted public access.

Although direct travel between Carmel and Cambria is still not possible due to these repairs, the traveling public is welcome to take advantage of all the features of the Big Sur coast. Travelers from the Cambria / San Simeon area are able to travel north as far as Limekiln State Park. Travelers from the Monterey / Carmel area are able to travel as far as Lime Creek, south of the Esalen Institute.

Completion Estimates for Slide Repairs

Repairs at the Dolan Point Slide are expected to be completed by early summer. Completion of repairs at Dolan Point will not result in an adjustment to the turnaround point at Lime Creek.

Repairs at Paul’s Slide are expected to be completed by late summer. At that point the current turnaround at Limekiln State Park will move north and provide direct access to the Camaldoli Hermitage and the community of Lucia.

The last of the repairs to be completed will be at Regent’s Slide. Due to challenging conditions associated with the extreme slope at the site, repairs at Regent’s Slide are now estimated to be completed in late fall. Completion of repairs at Regent’s Slide will open up Highway 1 to direct travel between Cambria and Carmel.

Progress at Repair Sites

Dolan Point (Post Mile 29.5) Activated March 8, 2024

After a top-down removal of slide material and reduction of rocks by blasting crews, double twist cable mesh has been installed along the face of the slope. Crews are working to connect the seams of dozens of 150-foot lengths of mesh which were lifted into place by helicopter. This mesh will add an additional layer of protection to the highway below the slope.

Paul’s Slide (Post Mile 22) Activated January 14, 2023

Crews have started installation of four major culverts at the site, completed final surveys for the new alignment of the roadway, and begun to install base material at the northern section of the repair. Crews continue to monitor and address slide activity above the repairs.

Regent’s Slide (Post Mile 27.8) Activated March 9, 2024

Crews began top-down removal of slide material on April 30. Crews are employing bulldozers at the top of the slide and smaller and more nimble machines called spider excavators to work material down the slope. Because of the severe slope even the spider excavators, which are designed to negotiate steep terrain, need to be tied to and anchored by the bulldozers above them.

Crews ceased work entirely for five days last week due to movement in the slope uphill of the repairs. Crews were able to resume debris removal work this week.

It is approximately 450 feet from the top of Regent’s Slide to the roadway and the slide itself covers the roadway and extends to the shore of the ocean. Repairs at Regent’s are complex and will at some point include reduction of rock material by blasting crews. The steep slope at this site means that repairs will continue with due deliberation and caution.

Highway 1 remains open to bicyclists on either side of the north and south turnaround points. However, bicyclists and pedestrians are not permitted to cross through Regent’s Slide. The slide is active, extremely steep, and the material across the road is unstable. There is no bicycle or pedestrian access on Highway 1 through Regent’s Slide.

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/

Regent’s Slide Repairs, May 16, 2024

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Kevin Drabinski

Public Information Officer