From Mark Readdie of Big Creek, exclusive to bigsurkate:
They have to deal with daily unpredictability at the Regent’s Slide. The work is complicated by significant instability of the rocky material they are encountering and the steep slope they’re working on. They are diligently working every day they can (when it’s not socked in with fog and when the slide isn’t falling apart) but all I can say is it’s slow going. Every day they have to check for new cracks above and below the working bench. The material below the bench is falling apart on its own. I watched twice now in the past few weeks where huge rocks just came off by themselves below the work bench. The spider excavators are cabled to bulldozers in case the whole thing goes.
Here is a video Mark took that he shared with me. This will give everyone some perspective.
If the real truth must be known, this kind of situation is no place to be undercutting a too-steep, slope (cliff?) of fractured rock, and no place for people to be working, just because some people want and expect the impossible. Follow the money–and the influence.
Wow the people working on Regent must get frustrated. What a great video.
They’d be better off building out over the shoreline on pylons than what they’re doing here …
Yikes. Agreed, perhaps someone in authority should reconsider. But I think as long as it is a state highway, Caltrans is required to keep it open. Otherwise Big Sur would be another “Lost Coast”, and what a shame that would be …. 😉
This thing will ruin that part of the trip that I have been waiting for for 40 years. I will lose time I did not have in the first place. This road will not be open in October. So sad.
hiya Kate, any updates on this slide ?
Richard, Yeah, moving, trying to get artifacts and documentation out of the way and nothing re starting work again or ETA for clearing and passage. Sorry.
We’re doing San Fran to San Diego next May as a road trip. First trip to the US (we’re from the UK).
We were looking forward to driving down the Big Sur, guess a detour will be needed.
Safety first though, hope it gets sorted.
I would definitely have a back-up plan, but keep an eye on my blog starting in 2025.
Hi kate I have been waiting to do a trip down this road for 30 years. Im driving from San Francisco to LA next year early july. Do you think all work will be finished by then?? I really do hope so. cant wait x Mark
It may or may not be ready by then at Regent’s as my understanding is that due to activity and danger, they have pretty much halted work until Spring. It is just too early to tell, but early July will be quite “iffy.”
In this space age times- lets fund a webcam overlook ..at all the dramatic road points..24/7 images are equivalent of lots words..