From 2 miles north of Lucia to 1 mile south of Esalen
| Date: | Tuesday, February 17, 2026 |
| District: | 05 – Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo, Monterey, San Benito, and Santa Cruz Counties |
| Contact: | Kevin Drabinski or Heidi Crawford |
| Phone: | (805) 549-3138 or (805) 549-3318 |
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
HIGHWAY 1 ON BIG SUR COAST REMAINS CLOSED NEAR REGENT’S SLIDE
MONTEREY COUNTY – A 6.8-mile segment of Highway 1 near Regent’s Slide remains closed due to ongoing debris cleanup as a result of ongoing winter storms.
Highway 1 is currently closed from two miles north of Lucia, to one mile south of the Esalen Institute. Message and directional signs are in place to alert travelers in advance of this closure.
The slope above the roadway at Regent’s Slide remains stable. However, the catchment area at the base of the slope has filled with debris that has eroded during recent rains. This erosion activity is an expected outcome following recent slide repairs and will continue as the slope seasons over time.
At present, debris in the catchment area has overtopped the concrete barriers on the northbound shoulder, allowing debris and rocks to travel directly on to the highway.
Crews will begin to clear debris from the catchment area during upcoming breaks in the rain. This cleanup effort is dependent on weather and site conditions. Updates will be provided as work progresses and at present there is no estimated time for a full reopening.
very glad to learn that, overall, the slope is stable
was there much discussion about impacts of seasonal rains on catchment areas?
(perhaps i just missed it, and the fact that further closures were expected)
thank you once again Kate
Unfortunately, I’m sensing a trend here…my father had cement filled into his L5 (vertebroplasy on his lowest lumbar vertebrae) to “mend” a broken/crushed vertebrae due to multiple myeloma. It soon followed after surgery that the L4 and then the L3 also collapsed and gave way. (He had vertebloplasty on L5 & L4, and then kyphoplasty on L3). It kind of looks what we are looking at here: when one broken area is shored up, it makes the surrounding areas more vulnerable. 😞
Lauren, you’re a mind of me own heart! You stick to the subject, whether or not we understand how clever you are.
Sincerely,
Yr. Ob’t. Sv’t.,
Wayne