Category: 2018-2019 El Niño

24 hour Highway Closure Notice

Today’s Date: February 25, 2019

District:            05 – Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo, Monterey, San Benito and Santa

Cruz Counties

Contact:          Susana Z Cruz (bilingual) or Colin Jones

Phone:            (805) 549-3138 or 549-3189

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

**24-HOUR TRAFFIC ADVISORY**

TEMPORARY CLOSURE OF HIGHWAY 1 AT MUD CREEK/PAUL’S SLIDE AT 5 PM TUESDAY

MONTEREY COUNTY — Caltrans has received confirmation from National Weather Service (NOAA) data that a significant storm is in the forecast for this week including the areas of Mud Creek (PM 8.9) and Paul’s Slide (PM 21.6) on State Route 1 in the Big Sur area.

This advisory is to inform the public to be prepared for preemptive closure of the roadway scheduled for 5 pm Tuesday, Feb. 26 due to a significant storm. A final notice will be sent just prior to the roadway closing. Caltrans will have our Geotech, Maintenance and Construction units on call and prepared to inspect/clean up during daylight hours when the storm ends and it is safe to be onsite again.

 

The gates on either side of Mud Creek and Paul’s Slide will be key locked. These gates will not be manned when the highway is closed. No one, including Emergency Services or Caltrans employees will be allowed access until a proper assessment can be made and any necessary cleanup has been completed.

 

NOTE: These advisories apply only to the Mud Creek and Paul’s Slide areas with each closure being treated separately–both locations will close at 5 pm Tuesday, Feb. 26.

Limekiln Bridge Info meeting postponed

Due to weather conditions, and the potential closure of Highway One at Paul’s Slide, Cal Trans is postponing the meeting currently set for tomorrow. I will let you know when a new date is determined.

Another Atmospheric River?

For a change, this one doesn’t have Big Sur in its crosshairs, but Santa Cruz will still see significant rain, with Big Sur seeing a bit less, it looks like. However, there is a wind advisory for this area. Flood watches issued for some of the North Bay, especially those areas north of San Francisco in the coastal regions.

And from NOAA NWS… “the coastal ranges down the Big Sur coast could see up to 5 inches with only 0.25″ to 0.50″ around Monterey and Salinas. Again, rainfall totals will vary widely.”

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48- hour Notice of Closure

Today’s Date: February 24, 2019

District:            05 – Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo, Monterey, San Benito and Santa

Cruz Counties

Contact:          Susana Z Cruz (bilingual) or Colin Jones

Phone:            (805) 549-3138 or 549-3189

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

**48-HOUR TRAFFIC ADVISORY**

POTENTIAL TEMPORARY CLOSURE OF HIGHWAY 1 AT MUD CREEK/PAUL’S SLIDE

    MONTEREY COUNTY — Caltrans has received notification from National Weather Service (NOAA) data that there is a significant storm arriving in approximately 48-hours for the areas of Mud Creek (PM 8.9) and Paul’s Slide (PM 21.6) on State Route 1 in the Big Sur area.

This advisory is for travelers to be ready in the event the roadway needs to be closed due to a predicted significant storm and allow time for them to prepare for the closure including stocking up on necessary supplies and making plans.

NOTE: At the 24-hour mark, an updated traffic advisory will be sent, either confirming the full closure or providing additional information. These advisories apply only to the Mud Creek and Paul’s Slide areas with each closure being treated separately.

(Ed note: This would put it at 5 pm Tuesday night)

 

Next Storm…2/19/19

…is on the way, fortunately nothing like we have been having. From NWS:

“Rain/snow showers return to the region overnight and continue through early Thursday morning. Look for the most rainfall/snowfall to occur over the Central Coast while the San Francisco Bay Area receives lesser amounts.  Snow levels will be around 2,500-3,000 ft.”

Toppled Porta potty at Rocky Creek

And today, Monday, Presdient’s Day, it was retrieved.

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You may have seen this at Rocky Creek. (Originally reported as Bixby, but Ken Wright informed me it was Rocky Creek.) I can’t find the email of the person who reported it to me yesterday, trying to find out who to report it to, but I contacted a number of my resources and Cal Trans has determined who the contractor is who placed the porta potty and they are arranging a date for its removal. Thank you for reporting this to me, and I apologize for not remembering who it was that did so.

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Both Slide areas to open by 5 pm tonight

Today’s Date: February 15, 2019 at 11:15 AM

District:           05 – Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo, Monterey, San Benito and Santa

Cruz Counties

Contact:          Susana Z Cruz (bilingual) or Colin Jones

Phone:            (805) 549-3138 or 549-3189

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

**UPDATE #2–TRAFFIC ADVISORY**

HWY. 1 AT MUD CREEK TO RE-OPEN AT 12 NOON TODAY AND PAUL’S SLIDE TO RE-OPEN AT 5 PM TODAY; BOTH AREAS WILL INCLUDE TRAFFIC CONTROL

MONTEREY COUNTY — Caltrans has received confirmation from National Weather Service (NOAA) data that the significant storms have passed in the areas of Mud Creek (PM 8.9) and Paul’s Slide (PM 21.6) on State Route 1 in the Big Sur area. Caltrans Geotech, Maintenance Design and Maintenance crews assessed all road areas within the closure limits earlier today between storms. Contractor and Caltrans crews are busy cleaning and clearing slide material from the roadway. As a result, Highway 1 at Mud Creek will re-open today, Friday Feb. 15 at 12 noon; Hwy. 1 at Paul’s Slide will re-open at 5 pm today.  Motorists will encounter traffic control at these locations today and tomorrow.

Thanks to the Big Sur community and coastal travelers for their cooperation and patience.

Susana Z. Cruz

Caltrans District 5

Public Information Officer

Highway One expanded closure continues

UPDATE #1–TRAFFIC ADVISORY**

CALTRANS CONTINUES WITH TEMPORARY CLOSURE OF HWY. 1 WITH CLOSURE LIMITS THAT INCLUDE MUD CREEK/PAUL’S SLIDE

MONTEREY COUNTY —The southern limits of the closure of Highway 1 will remain from Ragged Point (PM SLO 72.87) to Mud Creek (PM Mon 8.9) and the northern limits at Paul’s Slide (PM MON 21.6) due to heavy rainfall and slide activity in the area.   Highway 1 will remain closed at these two locations until further notice.

Businesses along the Big Sur Coast on Hwy. 1 remain open and are accessible via Hwys. 101, 68 and 46.

Caltrans’ Geotech, Maintenance and Construction units are on call and prepared to inspect/clean up when the storm ends during the daylight hours and it is safe to be onsite again—at this time, the forecast shows the storm is stretching into Sunday, Feb. 17th with the possibility of thunderstorms and locally heavy rainfall, so we plan to begin assessments on Saturday morning, Feb. 16th. Caltrans’ goal is to open the roadway as quickly and safely as possible and our staff remains on-call 24/7.

The gates on either side of Mud Creek and Paul’s Slide will be key locked. These gates will not be manned when the highway is closed and there will be no access to anyone, including Emergency Services or Caltrans employees until a proper assessment can be made and any necessary cleanup has been completed.

NOTE: This advisory applies only to the Mud Creek and Paul’s Slide areas with each closure being treated separately. Please stay tuned for additional information when the roadway opens again. SEE ATTACHED CLOSURE MAP.

An update will be provided by 5 pm on Saturday, Feb. 16th after assessments have been made.

Photos of Mud Creek taken 2/14/19

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Storm Report & Personal Report

Yesterday I got word that my younger brother and only sibling died Monday night. His heart gave out. He has been having health issues, but this was sudden. I was in King City doing a restocking in anticipating of these horrible storms, and instead I took care of some errands, grabbed a few things at the store and we headed back. My son can’t get to either of his jobs, so he is at home, keeping an eye on the place, and I wanted to make sure that he had enough to get him through.

We left this am, as early as we could, around 8 am, and had a very interesting trip out. Friends all said only the crazy go out in these kinds of storms…well, fortunately, Rock Knocker was going to come get me and drive, so we had the crazy covered. He was a Master Truck Driver Instructor in the Army, and 27+ years driving for Cal Trans, so I couldn’t have been with anyone better. We drove 9 hours, and are now in Hesperia, where I can see my almost 90 year-old aunt, and attend the funeral on Friday. What a ride. Here are some of the photos I took today.

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Because of my personal situation, I will not be as “on top of things” as I usually am, but I have my wonderful assistant admin and mystery map maker pitch hitting for me on anything important, and I will be following everything online as I usually do.  I know many of you are out of power and some of you won’t even get to see this, but it will be waiting for you when you return. Blessings, and stay warm, dry, and most importantly, safe.