CALTRANS
HIGHWAY 1 UPDATE
MARCH 13, 2017

***LATEST UPDATE AS OF 7:00 PM***

Estimated opening of Highway One north of Pfeiffer Canyon Bridge will now be Tuesday, March 14 by 5 pm.

NEW INFORMATION BOLD AND UNDERLINED

NOTE: Please realize that this schedule is not set in stone and conditions or unforeseen challenges may necessitate the work schedule to take a different direction or cease at times.
***********************************************
Multi-Agency Facility (MAF-PM 46.35)
This is currently the “turn around” point for the public. The facility offers a large turn around area. A pending question for discussion is public access to Pfeiffer Beach and Sycamore Cyn. Road (PM 45.64) just north and really close to the soon-to-be-demolished Pfeiffer Canyon Bridge. This site was evaluated this afternoon, March 13 by State Parks, Big Sur Fire Brigade, OES, Forest Service, CHP, locals and Caltrans. It was concurred that the MAF be the “turn around” point. Caltrans Construction and Maintenance will perform final prep work and CHP will relocate the northern closure (currently jso of Palo Colorado) to the MAF. State Route will re-open to the public tomorrow, Tuesday, March 14 by 5 pm. All business north of the closure will be open.

SR-1 FULL CLOSURE CONTINUES–RAGGED PT (SLO PM 72.87) TO JUST SOUTH OF PALO COLORADO (PM 61.5) WITH NEXT OPPORTUNITY FORRESUPPLY/DELIVERY ON WEDNESDAY, MARCH 15 AND FRIDAY, MARCH 17 BETWEEN 10 AM AND 3 PM EACH DAY**.

**Deliveries to Big Sur were made today, Monday, March 13. The stabilized roadway at Paul’s Slide (PM 21.6) is limited to vehicles weighing 50,000 lbs., with a maximum vehicle length of 30 feet. There is a flagger at Ragged Point checking I.D.’s for locals and allowing delivery vehicles through. The next opportunity for will be Wednesday, March 15 and Friday, March 17 between the hours of 10 am and 3 pm each day. Delivery vehicles can head both north and south unescortedbetween 10 am and 3 pm.

Locals only are recommended to travel from 7 am to 7 pm, due to continued slide activity, between Ragged Pt. and the Big Sur Deli with local I.D. until further notice.

The school bus also continues to be allowed to cross Paul’s Slide until further notice.

*IMPORTANT NOTE – CALTRANS PFEIFFER CYN. BRIDGE (PM 45.5) UPDATE:
· DUE TO EXTREME SAFETY CONCERNS AND THE BRIDGE’S DYNAMIC INSTABILITY, EVERYONE needs to STAY CLEAR and not get within 100 feet of either side of the bridge. This closure will be enforced.

Pfeiffer Canyon Bridge Demolition
The crane, in its current configuration, will not free fall the wrecking ball with the required force needed. New parts have been ordered and should arrive tomorrow. Depending on the delivery and assembly, another attempt will take place at a later date; possibly as early as Wednesday morning, March 15.

IMPORTANT NOTE: Any remaining vehicles in the large turn-out just north of Pfeiffer Canyon Bridge have been towed to the large “secure” parking lot at the MAF as of TUESDAY, MARCH 7.

· Drilling continues and Caltrans geotechnical and bridge experts from around the state are working as quickly as possible toward the bridge replacement. Drilling investigation findings are targeted for Friday, March 17.

· On the maintenance side, Caltrans is continuing to make progress with the slides to regain as much access from the south as possible. We are also working to keep the roadway passable from the north to just north of the Pfeiffer Canyon Bridge—for locals only. Hwy. 1 is scheduled to open to the public from Carmel and north, to the Multi-Agency Facility (MAF PM 46.35) tomorrow, Tuesday, March 15 by 5:00 PM

*BUSINESSES REMAIN OPEN*

Locals may travel in a truck, SUV or van 7:00AM – 7:00 PM
1) between Ragged. Pt. and Big Sur Deli (PM 45.3) and
2) between just north of Pfeiffer Cyn Bridge and Carmel.

Another update regarding the Highway 1 Big Sur Coast will be provided around mid-day on Tuesday, March 14 or sooner if conditions change.

NOTE: I WILL PUBLISH THE PHOTOS I TOOK OF MUD CREEK TODAY TOMORROW MORNING.

Over the weekend, Mud Creek developed a new trick – it is no longer just oozing mud and gushing water. It is now dropping rocks. Those working on it, contract and Cal Trans could not safely get to their loader to begin work this morning. When we went through, there were two spotters just watching for falling rocks. The pavement is still dropping significantly, compared to my last trip through. John Lindsay, SLO meterologist is predicting the return of rain on 3/22-3/28, so this, as well as Paul’s Slide, could become more difficult again.

I am tired of Fires and Floods – Disappearing Roads and Collapsing Bridges. I am taking a day off. From prior posts, I offer you beauty:

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All photos by bigsurkate or Dan Danbom.

Hi Kate,
I attended (with my field rep Toby Uptain-Villa) an emergency trail construction briefing this morning at the Pfeiffer Bridge bypass project. We joined State Parks Superintendent Brent Marshall, Chief Martha Karstens (Big Sur Volunteer Fire Brigade), business owner Basil Sanborn (Glen Oaks/Roadhouse), and community volunteers from Ventana Inn, Post Ranch, and others. The community volunteers have been integrated into the State Parks and California Conservation Corps worker teams to build a safe and passable trail. The terrain is steep with about a 600 foot elevation change. Falling rocks present a hazard to workers while weather conditions are perfect for strong progress on the trail.
Cal Trans will begin demolition of the Pfeiffer Bridge on Monday and community leaders are working with Cal Trans, Parks, and CHP to identify the best turn around points at the north end in anticipation of Hiway One reopening between Monterey and Big Sur (north) soon.
Thank you for your daily updates and information… so valuable to the community and all of us working to restore safe access for all.
Attached some photos FYI.
Warmly,
Senator Bill Monning

By Kurt Mayer, of course.

Photos of crane being used for Monday’s demolition. It’s approximately 23 ft. wide and almost covers both lanes jno of Pfeiffer Cyn. Bridge

CORRECTED INFORMATION IN BLUE (I underlined it)

SR-1 FULL CLOSURE CONTINUES–RAGGED PT (SLO PM 72.87) TO JUST SOUTH OF PALO COLORADO (PM 61.5) WITH NEXT OPPORTUNITY FOR LOCALS AND RESUPPLY/DELIVERIES ON MONDAY, MARCH 13 AT 10 AM**.

**Deliveries to Big Sur were made today, Friday, March 10. The stabilized roadway at Paul’s Slide (PM 21.6) is limited to vehicles weighing 35,000 lbs.; this can accommodate a truck with 3,000 gallons of propane. The maximum vehicle length is 30 feet. The delivery vehicles met at Ragged Point at 10 am to be escorted north by a Caltrans vehicle. There is a flagger at Ragged Point checking I.D.’s for locals and allowing delivery vehicles through. The next opportunity for deliveries will be on Monday, March 13, Wednesday, March 15 and Friday, March 17 at 10 am each day. Delivery vehicles can head south unescorted once deliveries are made as there should be minimal northbound traffic.

As of today, Friday, March 10, locals only will have 24/7 access from Ragged Pt. to the Big Sur Deli with local I.D. until further notice.

The school bus will be allowed to cross Paul’s Slide as of today, March 10 and continue crossing until further notice.

*IMPORTANT NOTE – CALTRANS PFEIFFER CYN. BRIDGE (PM 45.5) UPDATE:
· DUE TO EXTREME SAFETY CONCERNS AND THE BRIDGE’S DYNAMIC INSTABILITY, EVERYONE needs to STAY CLEAR and not get within 100 feet of either side of the bridge. This closure will be enforced.

IMPORTANT NOTE: Any remaining vehicles in the large turn-out just north of Pfeiffer Canyon Bridge have been towed to the large “secure” parking lot at the MAF as of TUESDAY, MARCH 7.

· Drilling continues and Caltrans geotechnical and bridge experts from around the state are working as quickly as possible toward the bridge replacement. Drilling investigation findings are targeted for Friday, March 17.

· On the maintenance side, Caltrans is continuing to make progress with the slides to regain as much access from the south as possible. We are also working to keep the roadway passable from the north to just north of the Pfeiffer Canyon Bridge—for locals only. Highway 1 is scheduled to open to the public from Carmel and north, to just north of the Big Sur Station (PM 46.35) next Thursday, March 16 as of 9 am.

*BUSINESSES REMAIN OPEN*

Locals may travel in a truck, SUV or van 24/7 as of today, Friday, March 10:
1) between Ragged. Pt. and Big Sur Deli (PM 45.3) and
2) between just north of Pfeiffer Cyn Bridge and Carmel.

Another update regarding the Highway 1 Big Sur Coast will be provided around mid-day on Friday, March 10 or sooner if conditions change.

NOTE: For information on emergency services only (not Caltrans road inquiries) for the Big Sur Coast, you may contact Gerry Malais, Mon. Co. OES via email at: malaisg@co.monterey.ca.us or Maia Carroll, Mon. Co. OES PIO at carrollm@co.monterey.ca.us or via phone at (831) 796-3092.

Susana Z. Cruz nature-flower-blue-motif[1]
Caltrans District 5
Acting Manager
Public Information Office

From CPOA:

As announced in our email of March 3rd, a foot trail is being constructed around the Pfeiffer Canyon Bridge that will enable locals to hike between the northern and southern closure of the bridge. This project is estimated to take about 5 weeks.

However, when possible, people may be allowed to hike the trail during certain periods of construction. These openings will be evaluated on a daily basis and announcements will be issued by the unified command in the evenings and made public.

Following is an update from the unified command.

“It has been determined by John Hiles, State Parks lead for construction of emergency trail, that it is not safe for pedestrians to be on the trail. The trail is a construction area and will be closed today, 3/10/17, to the public. This will be re-evaluated daily and communicated via the joint command. The crew is making great progress and we have 10 more community volunteers assisting the effort this morning.”

And this beauty just posted by Kyle Evans. Crane is almost assembled.

Photos by Heather Foster. The first one is from yesterday, Thursday, the second is from early this am. Thank you, Heather.

From Cal Trans through KSBW:

Piece by piece, crews put together a 250 ton crane that will be used to knock down the collapsed Pfeiffer Canyon Bridge in Big Sur.

“The crane consisted of eleven loads coming from various parts of the state and it’s essentially being put together here on site,” said David Galarza with Caltrans. “It’s quite a task. They’re using a crane to put a crane together.”
After everything is assembled crews will attach a 6000 pound wrecking ball to the crane and use it to bring down the bridge.
“He’ll take it to a certain distance above the bridge deck and essentially drop it on there,” said Galarza. “Do that repeatedly and it will cause the bridge to fail. The key with that is making sure that the bridge fails in the location that we want it to.”

PHOTOS COURTESY OF STAN RUSSELL—BIG SUR CHAMBER–☺

Paul’s Slide:

I’ll check with Rock Knocker tomorrow, but this looks like a temporary “fix” only and the road looks like it will need a stop light for one lane only.

Lighthouse Flats. Also looks to be one lane only.

And our now world-famous bridge over Pfeiffer Gulch (Canyon)

SR-1 FULL CLOSURE CONTINUES–RAGGED PT (SLO PM 72.87) TO JUST SOUTH OF PALO COLORADO (PM 61.5) WITH OPPORTUNITY FOR LOCALS AND RESUPPLY/DELIVERIES ON FRIDAY, MARCH 10 AT 10 AM**.

Paul’s Slide for locals: from Saturday, March 4 through Thursday, March 9 (shotcrete operation will take place all Thursday), there will be no access for Caltrans or locals from 7 AM to 7 PM. Locals MAY travel through this area from 7 PM until 7 AM with the assistance of a flagger conducting one-way reversing traffic control.

**Deliveries to Big Sur can be made tomorrow, Friday, March 10. The stabilized roadway at Paul’s Slide (PM 21.6) is limited to vehicles weighing 35,000 lbs.; this can accommodate a truck with 3,000 gallons of propane. The maximum vehicle length is 30 feet. The delivery vehicles will meet at Ragged Point at 10 am and be escorted north by a Caltrans vehicle. There will be a flagger at Ragged Point checking I.D.’s for locals and allowing delivery vehicles through. The next opportunity for deliveries will be on Monday, March 13, Wednesday, March 15 and Friday, March 17 at 10 am each day. Delivery vehicles can head south unescorted once deliveries are made as there should be minimal northbound traffic.

Starting tomorrow, Friday, March 10, between delivery dates and on weekends, locals only will have 24/7 access from Ragged Pt. to the Big Sur Post Office with local I.D. until further notice.

The school bus will be allowed to cross Paul’s Slide starting March 10 and continue crossing until further notice.

*IMPORTANT NOTE – CALTRANS PFEIFFER CYN. BRIDGE (PM 45.5) UPDATE:
· DUE TO EXTREME SAFETY CONCERNS AND THE BRIDGE’S DYNAMIC INSTABILITY, EVERYONE needs to STAY CLEAR and not get within 100 feet of either side of the bridge. This closure will be enforced.

IMPORTANT NOTE: Any remaining vehicles in the large turn-out just north of Pfeiffer Canyon Bridge have been towed to the large “secure” parking lot at the MAF as of TUESDAY, MARCH 7.

· Drilling continues and Caltrans geotechnical and bridge experts from around the state are working as quickly as possible toward the bridge replacement. Drilling investigation findings are targeted for Friday, March 17.

· On the maintenance side, Caltrans is continuing to make progress with the slides to regain as much access from the south as possible. We are also working to keep the roadway passable from the north to just north of the Pfeiffer Canyon Bridge—for locals only. Hwy. 1 is scheduled to open to the public from Carmel and north, to the Multi-Agency Facility (MAF, PM 46.35) next Wednesday, March 15 as of 9 am.

*BUSINESSES REMAIN OPEN*

Locals may travel in a truck, SUV or van 24/7 as of tomorrow, Friday, March 10:
1) between Ragged. Pt. and Big Sur Post Office (PM 45.23) and
2) between just north of Pfeiffer Cyn Bridge and Carmel.

Another update regarding the Highway 1 Big Sur Coast will be provided around mid-day on Friday, March 10 or sooner if conditions change.

NOTE: For information on emergency services only (not Caltrans road inquiries) for the Big Sur Coast, you may contact Gerry Malais, Mon. Co. OES via email at: malaisg@co.monterey.ca.us or Maia Carroll, Mon. Co. OES PIO at carrollm@co.monterey.ca.us or via phone at (831) 796-3092.

Susana Z. Cruz
Caltrans District 5
Acting Manager
Public Information Officer