| Date: | Friday, September 27, 2024 |
| District: | 05 – Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo, Monterey, San Benito, and Santa Cruz Counties |
| Contact: | Kevin Drabinski or Genelle Padilla |
| Phone: | (805) 549-3138 or (805) 549-3237 |
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
UPDATE #2
CONTINUED CRACKING AND LAND MOVEMENT AT REGENT’S SLIDE WILL DELAY REOPENING OF HIGHWAY 1
Nearly 100 Miles of Big Sur Coast Remain Accessible and Open
MONTEREY COUNTY – Caltrans announced today that due to continued cracking occurring at the repair site, a portion of previously damaged roadway located on Highway 1 at Regent’s Slide will not reopen in 2024. Updates on an estimated reopening date and the progress of repairs will be provided on a regular basis.
On August 16, Caltrans announced that repair work at Regent’s Slide would pause after crews discovered new surface cracks in the slope where major excavation efforts were underway. In the weeks since that update, continued land movement and slope cracking were observed during intensive project monitoring and investigation.
Before excavation work begins again, crews still need to monitor both the new slide and the area of undisturbed land above the project site where the start of new excavation work is planned. Data from these investigations will inform the repair design and major excavation work. Repairs will resume when crews and equipment can be positioned on stable ground above and behind the new slide activity.
This approach emphasizes Caltrans’ commitment to address challenging repairs using methods that prioritize crew safety while working diligently to open the roadway as soon as possible.
Don’t “like” it at all. Wish there were an choice to click that.
Geologic time and human time sometimes intersect awkwardly. Sympathy to all impacted by continuing closure. It’s a really tough slide to work on – so steep, still moving.
last I heard..rumoured at the post office- Digging has struck a large ancestral burial site, which may bring a halt to terracing platforms moving on N.
Canyon, I sent this to your privately, and then realized I should quell the BS rumor mill with facts.
That happened several weeks ago, or a month ago. Not a large anything and certainly not a burial site per Tom Little Bear Nason. Just a few beads and arrowheads and stuff, ad they should be about finished with the inventory and photos by now, or soon.
Hi Kate! Do you have an update for 2025?
I asked for one last week and was told it was being reviewed and should be ready by the end of this week. (17th)
Hi Kate, Greetings from London! Thank you for running this great blog. We’re hoping to drive the PCH in April – what do you think our chances are of being able to do it, and is there a route round better than the four-hour one that Google Maps suggests? Thanks, Ben
No chance it will be open in April and no better drive around than what is suggested. It is actually almost 5, if you are enjoying the trip/view which you must do.
Hey Kate!
I’m a bicycle tourist that rides thru Big Sur with friends once a year. We were hoping that HWY 1 near Big Sur would open up, but we are not holding our breath.
What do you personally think, do you believe regents slide will open up by late June?
Thank you,
Victor
Late June of 2027, yes. This year? Absolutely not. 2026? That requires a crystal ball