Photos of: 1) Mud Creek (PM 8.9) and Pfeiffer Canyon Bridge (PM 45.52) on Oct. 4-PCB image courtesy of Kyle Evans.

HIGHWAY 1 UPDATE – Tuesday, Oct. 9

The new Pfeiffer Canyon Bridge (PM 45.52) will open by 5 pm on Friday, Oct. 13 assuming there will be no issues involving weather/material/equipment. After the bridge opening, Highway 1 in Monterey County will provide 35 additional miles of Hwy. 1 for travelers to Gorda (PM 10). State Route 1 remains closed from north of Salmon Creek, just south of the Ranger Station (PM 3) to just south of Gorda (PM 10) due to the Mud Creek slide. State Route 1 south of Salmon Creek is accessible via State Route 1 in San Luis Obispo County near Ragged Point.

REMINDER: Travelers still CANNOT access the entire length of Highway 1 from Carmel to Cambria but local businesses are open on both sides of Mud Creek.

Pfeiffer Canyon Bridge [PCB] (PM 45.52)
Final work to continue for several weeks but Pfeiffer Canyon Bridge will provide access to both locals and the public by 5 pm on Friday, Oct. 13, assuming there will be no issues involving weather/material/equipment. There will be some weekdays that will require a lane closure consisting of one-way reversing traffic control but once the bridge opens, it won’t need to fully close. See attached program regarding ribbon-cutting event details.

Mud Creek (PM 8.9)
Mud Creek had a major slide on Saturday, May 20, 2017, losing over 5 million cubic yards of material. Caltrans continues with its plan to realign the existing terrain. The projected timeline to safely open to public traffic is late-summer 2018 at an estimated cost of $40 million.

There is currently no public access through the Mud Creek area since this remains an active, emergency construction zone.

Paul’s Slide (PM 21.6)
Paul’s Slide is still active but the 24/7 traffic signal remains in place and temporary guardrail (k-rail) in the centerline.

Caltrans reminds motorists to move over and slow down when driving through highway work zones.
Susana Z. Cruz nature-flower-blue-motif[1]
Caltrans District 5
Public Information Officer

From CPOA:

In anticipation of reopening the Pfeiffer Beach Day Use Area, the USFS will be doing some repairs and cleanup on Sycamore Canyon Road some distance up from the beach toward Highway 1. This may cause some delay and problem for anyone needing to access Clear Ridge and Front Hill Roads and that general area.

Hours of work will be from 7:00 AM to 5:30 PM and that part of the road will be closed. The USFS recommends accessing Clear Ridge via the Brewers Bridge gate.

This work started on October 3rd and may continue through October 13th, the opening day of Pfeiffer Canyon Bridge. If more specific details are provided to us by the USFS, we will forward them to you.

Also from CPOA:

There have been recent discussions by CPOA and local residents with the US Forest Service about the over use of Pfeiffer Beach and Sycamore Canyon Road that provides access to the beach. These recent discussions are, in fact, a continuation of discussions that have spanned over 20 years with no significant improvement in the management of this worldwide destination. With visitation exceeding all records year after year, there is an ever increasing health and safety issue that needs to be addressed by the USFS.

You may download a letter from CPOA and an attachment from the Big Sur Volunteer Fire Brigade, by clicking HERE, that has been sent to the new Acting Forest Supervisor requesting immediate attention to this growing problem. (PDF file, 3 pages, 157KB).

Please read these letters by Butch and Martha. This is a serious issue with little time to resolve before opening of the bridge and the beach.

From the Big Sur Chamber of Commerce:

All vehicles parked on the east and west sides of the Highway 1 right of way, between the south side of Pfeiffer Canyon Bridge and the turn-around across from the US Post Office must be moved no later than midnight, Wednesday, October 11, 2017. This is necessary to facilitate the opening of Pfeiffer Canyon Bridge to public access on Friday, October 13, 2017. Any vehicle parked in this area after midnight on Wednesday, October 11, 2017, will be subject to ticketing and towing, if necessary. Please pass the word to your neighbors.

Thank you,

Kirk

Kirk Gafill
President Big Sur Chamber of Commerce

First, an editorial comment: I suspect, but have not been told, that END of day is in order to facilitate the dignitaries who will be here for a photo op ribbon cutting ceremony. There is also a rumor that a certain local bartender may be planning a keg party in the middle of the bridge, further delaying the opening. He may have been kidding, but not sure, knowing him. 😘

Photos: 1- of Mud Creek (PM 8.9) from Tuesday, Sept. 19. 2- of Paul’s Slide (PM 21.6)—signal installation in place Sept. 27. 3-4 of Pfeiffer Canyon (PM 45.52) Drainage Installation and Abutment 2 Reinforcement. The following You Tube video shows pouring the concrete deck for the new Pfeiffer Canyon Bridge. 11pm-2:30am when this video was shot. The pour lasted from Friday night Sept. 22 until Saturday afternoon, September 23, 2017. Video courtesy of Kyle Evans for Caltrans. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jgw2EU8qFeA

HIGHWAY 1 UPDATE – Tuesday, Oct. 3

The new Pfeiffer Canyon Bridge (PM 45.52) will open to public near end of the day on Friday, Oct. 13 with details to follow, assuming there will be no issues involving weather/material/equipment. After the bridge opening, Highway 1 in Monterey County will provide 35 additional miles of Hwy. 1 for travelers to Gorda (PM 10). State Route 1 remains closed from north of Salmon Creek, just south of the Ranger Station (PM 3) to just south of Gorda (PM 10) due to the Mud Creek slide. State Route 1 south of Salmon Creek is accessible via State Route 1 in San Luis Obispo County near Ragged Point.

REMINDER: Travelers still CANNOT access the entire length of Highway 1 from Carmel to Cambria but local businesses are open on both sides of Mud Creek.

Pfeiffer Canyon Bridge [PCB] (PM 45.52)
Final work to continue for several weeks but Pfeiffer Canyon Bridge will provide access to both locals and the public by 5 pm on Friday, Oct. 13, assuming there will be no issues involving weather/material/equipment. There will be some weekdays that will require a lane closure consisting of one-way reversing traffic control but once the bridge opens, it won’t need to fully close. More details to come about the ribbon-cutting event.

Mud Creek (PM 8.9)
Mud Creek had a major slide on Saturday, May 20, 2017, losing over 5 million cubic yards of material. Caltrans continues with its plan to realign the existing terrain. The projected timeline to safely open to public traffic is late-summer 2018 at an estimated cost of $40 million.

There is currently no public access through the Mud Creek area since this remains an active, emergency construction zone.

Paul’s Slide (PM 21.6)
Paul’s Slide is still active but the 24/7 one-way reversing traffic control with flaggers has been replaced by a traffic signal installed Thursday, Sept. 28 and temporary guardrail (k-rail) in the centerline.
Caltrans reminds motorists to move over and slow down when driving through highway work zones.
Susana Z. Cruz nature-flower-blue-motif[1]
Caltrans District 5
Public Information Officer

KSBY is reporting a “rescue” to get to the driver of the truck by fire personnel and an ambulance is on the way.

Incident: 00135 Type: Trfc Collision-1141 Enrt Location: CRG14 / Unnamed Street Loc Desc: 1062 NACIMIENTO Lat/Lon: 35.761079 -120.884788
Detail Information
5:20 PM 9 [21] B9-004B REQ CORDS FOR TRAFFIC CONTROL / BOTH SIDES
4:51 PM 8 [17] [Rotation Request Comment] 1039 WEST COAST TOW 805-466-1070
4:47 PM 7 [15] 9-4B ON DAM / BLOCKING BOTH DIRECTIONS
4:47 PM 6 [14] [Notification] [CHP]-CALFIRE IS 97 AND REQ CLOSURE AT HERITAGE LOOP AND LAKE DRIVE – AND THE OTHER AT INTERLAKE/LAKE
4:33 PM 5 [10] 1125
4:33 PM 4 [9] OTHER VEH INVL IS A MERZ – DRIVER IS 1182
4:32 PM 3 [8] PER SLOSO ON THE DAM BRIDGE
4:30 PM 2 [2] RP TO SLOSO ADVS DRIVER WAS INJ
4:28 PM 1 [1] O/TURNED SEMI ON THE BRIDGE

Susana did not issue an update yesterday, and when I asked her about it, she said she had it ready, but headquarters pulled it. Today she is out in the field, and will issue the update upon her return or tomorrow, depending, so I expect that to be the “official” opening date announcement, but staff at an establishment on the South Side are dancing with joy, looking forward to Friday the 13th. I’ll bet they are right!!!

Rock Knocker came upon an accident about a mile (?) east of Nacimiento Campground this afternoon around 3 pm. A 10 yard going east cut the corner badly on a blind curve. Guess what he saw as he came around it? A little car, which he proceeded to hit full on. Don’t know re injuries, but the rig was so far over, everyone was able to get by on his right hand side. Only 10 ft of brake skids by the truck visible.

And THAT is why it is no necessary to drive slowly and carefully and completely over in your own lane. Even that may not have prevented this one.

From CHP tonight:

5:55 PM 11 [26] 27-N37 N37 WILL BE 1023 FOR BIG RIG 1185
5:40 PM 10 [23] ALWAYS TOW ADV THE ROT FB REQ IS BEING TAKEN AS 3A
3:41 PM 9 [21] [Notification] [CHP]-1039 ALWAYS TOW HD NOW ENRT
3:40 PM 8 [19] 1185 HD WILL BE OWNERS REQUEST
3:39 PM 7 [18] LOS PADRES REQ 1185 HD FOR 70000 LB DUMP TK EMPTY OF FUEL OWNERS REQ FOR ALWAYS TOW TO SALINAS
3:33 PM 6 [17] 1185 COPIED DIRECTIONS
3:32 PM 5 [15] [Rotation Request Comment] 1039 ALWAYS TOW 831-424-8698 W/ FB
3:28 PM 4 [14] [Notification] [CHP]-CHP 1097 10 MINS AGO UNK WHICH UNIT UNABLE TO GET OUT ON RADIO – REQ 1185 FB
2:30 PM 3 [12] [Notification] [CHP]-TAKE NACIMIENTO FERGUSON RD THROUGH FORT HUNTER LIGGETT INTO FOREST BOUNDARY 2-3 MILES PAST BOUNDARY // WILL BE NACIMIENTO CAMPGROUND – WILL BE THE 2ND CAMPGROUND CHP WILL GET TO
2:22 PM 2 [6] [Notification] [CHP]-Problem changed from 1182-Trfc Collision-No Inj to HAZMAT-Hazardous Materials Inc by CHP
2:20 PM 1 [1] DUMP TK VS PK TK AT CAMPGROUND

(Did not receive an update from Cal Trans today, and Susana will be out in the field tomorrow.)

 

Sorry for the dash reflections.

3 pm – no longer on CHP site, and nothing further anywhere else, so it is over or being wrapped up.

Incident: 00258 Type: Report of Fire Location: Us101 N / Central Loc Desc: NB 101 AT CENTRAL Lat/Lon: 36.233611 -121.174444
Detail Information
12:41 PM 2 [2] BRUSH FIRE
12:41 PM 1 [1] FIRE ENRT

I am just crossing FHL, so will catch up with this when I get home.