Date:	Thursday, May 29, 2025
District:	05 – Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo, Monterey, San Benito, and Santa Cruz Counties
Contact:	Kevin Drabinski or Celeste Morales
Phone:	(805) 549-3138 or (805) 549-3237

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

UPDATE #44

REMINDER: FULL OVERNIGHT CLOSURE OF HIGHWAY 1 AT ROCKY CREEK

STARTING SUNDAY, JUNE 1 AT 10 PM

MONTEREY COUNTY – Caltrans is continuing with emergency repairs to Highway 1 near the Rocky Creek Bridge, 12 miles south of Carmel.

Travelers will encounter a full overnight closure of Highway 1 at Rocky Creek starting Sunday, June 1 at 10 pm. Highway 1 will reopen Monday, June 2 at 6 am.

Following the successful installation of six concrete girders on May 16 and 17, crews will pour the concrete bridge deck during this overnight closure as work continues to advance on the southbound viaduct structure.

The North and South Coast of Big Sur Remain Open and Accessible Via Hwy. 1

Travelers are reminded that over 100 miles of Highway 1 on the Big Sur coast remain open and accessible. Travelers from northern California will find easy access to historic bridges, waterfalls, restaurants, and lodging amenities. Travelers from southern California will find that the highway brings them directly within reach of the unparalleled views, lodging amenities, and natural wonders of Lucia, the Camaldoli Hermitage, Gorda, Treebones, Ragged Point, San Simeon, and Cambria. Highway 1 remains closed at Regent’s Slide, 40 miles south of Carmel.

The estimate for final completion of the Rocky Creek viaduct is summer 2025, with that date dependent on conditions encountered during construction. The contractor for this project is Gordon N. Ball, Inc. of Walnut Creek, CA.

Just a reminder: People often confuse Memorial Day and Veteran’s Day. On Memorial Day we honor those who gave their lives in the fight for our country. We honor our dead. Veteran’s Day, we honor the living.

This post is dedicated to all of those who made the ultimate sacrifice for our nation and for us…In memory of all of them, in all our many wars. 

With a thank you for Nadine

Join the movement. We’ll have our own parade!

Date:	Wednesday, May 21, 2025
District:	05 – Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo, Monterey, San Benito, and Santa Cruz Counties
Contact:	Kevin Drabinski or Celeste Morales
Phone:	(805) 549-3138 or (805) 549-3237

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

UPDATE #4

CREWS FOCUSED ON SLOPE STABILIZATION AT REGENT’S SLIDE

MONTEREY COUNTY – Crews are continuing with repairs to Regent’s Slide, which closed Highway 1 on February 9, 2024, with crews now focused on slope stabilization efforts.

After gaining one month of improved excavation productivity with the use of traditional and remote-controlled heavy equipment, monitoring devices and field observations identified new slide activity and surface cracking in the slope immediately above the project area.

Crews are in the process of installing dozens of shear dowels, steel bars approximately 60 ft. in length, into the slope above the work area. These shear dowels are drilled into the slope and grouted in place in a 10 ft. by 10 ft. grid fashion. Shear dowels were previously installed in the slope immediately north of the area now exhibiting movement and have been successful there in limiting further slide activity.

Crews installing shear dowels are working seven days a week and extended hours. It is anticipated that excavation activities will resume using traditional and remote equipment in the upcoming weeks once the shear dowel installation has been completed and monitoring equipment and site conditions indicate that it is once again safe to do so.  

Additionally, given the complexities of the site conditions and the priority to complete repairs in a safe and timely manner, Caltrans has engaged an outside professional Geotechnical consulting firm to support the repair effort at Regent’s Slide.

As announced previously, repairs to Regent’s Slide are now expected to keep Highway 1 in this area closed through summer 2025. Caltrans will continue to provide regular updates on progress on these slide repairs and an estimated reopening date.

Big Sur Coast Remains Accessible and Open

Visitors can access more than 100 miles of Highway 1 between Cambria and Carmel, except for the 6.8-mile segment one mile south of the Esalen Institute to two miles north of Lucia.

Travelers from Northern California can still access historic bridges, waterfalls, restaurants, and lodging amenities along the Big Sur coast. Travelers from Southern California can reach the endearing communities of Lucia, Gorda, Ragged Point, San Simeon, and Cambria via Highway 1.

Road information and updates can also be found on Caltrans District 5 Social Media platforms: X/Twitter at: @CaltransD5, Facebook at: Caltrans Central Coast (District 5) and Instagram at: Caltrans_D5.

For more information about transportation projects and funding, visit: Build.ca.gov.

Lockwood, CA – Conditions and weather permitting, CAL FIRE plans to assist Fort Hunter Liggett conduct a multiple day broadcast burn in Lockwood Area of Monterey County May 19th to the 27th.

This prescribed fire project was planned as part of broader strategic efforts to protect the local community and nearby natural resources. These plans are informed by community and local stakeholder input and serve as a collaborative effort with a range of cooperators throughout the course of the project. This project adds to significant work underway throughout the state and brings California one step closer towards meeting or exceeding state fuels reduction goals directed by the California Fire Plan and the California Wildfire and Forest Resilience Action Plan.

Each operation follows a specialized burn plan, which considers temperature, humidity, wind, moisture of the vegetation, and conditions for dispersal of smoke. All this information is used to decide when and where to burn.

Smoke from prescribed fire operations is normal and may continue for several days after an ignition depending on the project size, conditions, and weather. Prescribed fire smoke is generally less intense and of much shorter duration than smoke produced by wildland fires.

Smoke from this control burn will be visible in the Lockwood Area. Weather conditions will be monitored, and burn may be postponed if burning conditions are found to be unfavorable.

To track the progress being made, both in your community and throughout California, please visit the CAL FIRE fuels reduction dashboard at https://www.fire.ca.gov/what-we-do/natural-resource-management/fuels-reduction and help share important preventing and preparedness information with your neighbors at readyforwildfire.org

From the archives:

MONTEREY COUNTY – Caltrans is continuing with emergency repairs to Highway 1 near the Rocky Creek Bridge, 12 miles south of Carmel. Caltrans previously stabilized and reinforced Highway 1 at this location after a March 30, 2024, slipout resulted in a loss of a section of the southbound lane. The southbound lane of Highway 1 at Rocky Creek was reopened to travel on March 8, 2025, after completion of the southbound viaduct structure.

Highway 1 at Rocky Creek has fully reopened to thru travel as of Saturday, May 17 at 10:40 am.

Using two heavy cranes, crews installed six pre-cast concrete girders which will advance completion of the northbound viaduct structure. The Rocky Creek viaduct project remains on track for completion in Summer 2025.

The contractor for this project is Gordon N. Ball, Inc. of Walnut Creek, CA. 

Travelers are reminded that over 100 miles of Highway 1 on the Big Sur coast remain open and accessible. Travelers from northern California will find easy access to historic bridges, waterfalls, restaurants, and lodging amenities. Travelers from southern California will find that the highway brings them directly within reach of the unparalleled views, lodging amenities, and natural wonders of Lucia, the Camaldoli Hermitage, Gorda, Ragged Point, San Simeon, and Cambria.

Road information and updates can also be found on Caltrans District 5 Social Media platforms: X/Twitter at: @CaltransD5, Facebook at: Caltrans Central Coast (District 5) and Instagram at: Caltrans_D5

From Los Padres Forest Watch:

The Trump administration is once again threatening decades of progress for endangered wildlife. A new proposal seeks to eliminate a rule that defines a key term in the Endangered Species Act—one that has ensured protection critical habitat for imperiled species for over 40 years. At issue is the regulatory definition of “harm,” which has long been defined by expert agencies and affirmed by the Supreme Court to include significant habitat destruction that kills or injures protected species. This interpretation has guided wildlife conservation efforts both nationwide and here in the Los Padres National Forest for species including the California condor, southern and south-central coast steelhead trout, tidewater goby, and California red-legged frog. If finalized, this regulatory rollback is likely to motivate logging, development, and other industrial interests to ramp up proposals for activities that destroy the habitat imperiled species need to survive and recover. In places like Los Padres National Forest this could open the door to more pressure on already-vulnerable ecosystems.

Click to Tell the Trump Administration – Hands Off the Endangered Species Act!

Your voice is needed! The Endangered Species Act has been one of the most successful environmental laws in history, and our regulations must continue to reflect the reality that habitat loss harms wildlife. Submit a public comment today urging the administration to maintain the longstanding regulatory definition of “harm” and defend habitat for imperiled species.

Thank you,  Benjamin PitterleDirector of Advocacy and Field OperationsLos Padres ForestWatch

From the Federal Register (https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2025/04/17/2025-06746/rescinding-the-definition-of-harm-under-the-endangered-species-act)

AGENCY:

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior; National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Commerce.

ACTION:

Notice of proposed rulemaking; request for comments.

SUMMARY:

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) and the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) (collectively referred to as the Services or we) are proposing to rescind the regulatory definition of “harm” in our Endangered Species Act (ESA or the Act) regulations. The existing regulatory definition of “harm,” which includes habitat modification, runs contrary to the best meaning of the statutory term “take.” We are undertaking this change to adhere to the single, best meaning of the ESA.

DATES:

Comments must be received by May 19, 2025.

ADDRESSES:

A plain language summary of this proposed rule is available at https://www.regulations.gov in Docket No. FWS-HQ-ES-2025-0034. You may submit comments by one of the following methods:

(1) Electronically: Go to the Federal eRulemaking Portal: https://www.regulations.gov. In the Search box, enter FWS-HQ-ES-2025-0034, which is the docket number for this rulemaking. Then, click on the Search button. On the resulting page, in the panel on the left side of the screen, under the Document Type heading, check the Proposed Rule box to locate this document. You may submit a comment by clicking on “Comment.”

(2) By hard copy: Submit by U.S. mail to: Public Comments Processing, Attn: FWS-HQ-ES-2025-0034, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, MS: PRB/3W, 5275 Leesburg Pike, Falls Church, VA 22041-3803.

We request that you send comments only by the methods described above. Comments must be submitted to https://www.regulations.gov before 11:59 p.m. (Eastern Time) on the date specified in DATES . We will not consider mailed comments that are not postmarked by the date specified in DATES .

We will post your entire comment—including your personal identifying information—on https://www.regulations.gov. If you provide personal identifying information in your comment, you may request at the top of your document that we withhold this information from public review. We cannot guarantee, however, that we will be able to do so. Anonymous comments will be considered. Comments and materials we receive, as well as supporting documentation we used in preparing this proposed rule, will be available for public inspection on https://www.regulations.gov.

Date:	Monday, May 12, 2025
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 #40

REMINDER: HIGHWAY 1 AT ROCKY CREEK SET FOR FULL 24-HOUR CLOSURE

STARTING FRIDAY, MAY 16 AT 10 PM FOR GIRDER INSTALLATION

MONTEREY COUNTY – Caltrans is continuing with emergency repairs to Highway 1 near the Rocky Creek Bridge, 12 miles south of Carmel. Caltrans previously stabilized and reinforced Highway 1 at this location after a March 30, 2024, slipout resulted in a loss of a section of the southbound lane. The southbound lane of Highway 1 at Rocky Creek was reopened to travel on March 8, 2025, after completion of the southbound viaduct structure.

Full 24-Hour Closure of Hwy. 1 at Rocky Creek Set to Begin Friday, May 16 at 10 PM

Caltrans is scheduled to fully close Highway 1 at Rocky Creek for 24 hours starting Friday, May 16 at 10 pm. Highway 1 is scheduled to reopen to thru travel on Saturday, May 17 at 10 pm.

Note: Two heavy cranes will be in operation at either end of the project area during the girder installation. No vehicle or pedestrian travel of any kind will be possible on Highway 1 through Rocky Creek for the duration of this closure.

The schedule for this 24-hour closure is weather dependent. Updates will be provided to confirm or announce any changes to this schedule. Should weather force the rescheduling of the girder installation, the first alternative date for this work would be from Saturday, May 17 at 10 pm to Sunday, May 18 at 10 pm.

Caltrans hopes to achieve a major construction milestone during this 24-hour closure with the installation of six pre-cast concrete girders which will advance completion of the northbound viaduct structure. Crews previously installed nine girders for the now completed southbound viaduct structure in mid-December of last year.

The estimate for completion of the Rocky Creek viaduct is summer 2025 and is dependent on conditions encountered during construction. The contractor for this project is Gordon N. Ball, Inc. of Walnut Creek, CA.

Travelers are reminded that over 100 miles of Highway 1 on the Big Sur coast remain open and accessible. Travelers from northern California will find easy access to historic bridges, waterfalls, restaurants, and lodging amenities. Travelers from southern California will find that the highway brings them directly within reach of the unparalleled views, lodging amenities, and natural wonders of Lucia, the Camaldoli Hermitage, Gorda, Ragged Point, San Simeon, and Cambria.

Road information and updates can also be found on Caltrans District 5 Social Media platforms: X/Twitter at: @CaltransD5, Facebook at: Caltrans Central Coast (District 5) and Instagram at: Caltrans_D5.