Note: This is ONLY Rocky Creek. There are still three other closures that prevent taking Highway 1 all the way to Cambria and other points south.

From: Governor’s Press Office <govpressoffice@gov.ca.gov>
Sent: Tuesday, May 14, 2024 2:55 PM
Subject: Governor Newsom Announces the Reopening of Highway 1, Ahead of Schedule

	EXTERNAL EMAIL. Links/attachments may not be safe.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Tuesday, May 14, 2024Governor’s Press Office: (916) 445-4571Governor Newsom Announces the Reopening of Highway 1, Ahead of Schedule WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW: The Governor announced today that a portion of Highway 1, near Big Sur, which was severely damaged by recent storms, is set to reopen more than a week ahead of schedule this Friday, May 17. BIG SUR – Governor Gavin Newsom today announced that Caltrans will open the portion of Highway 1 closed by the Rocky Creek slip-out to traffic, starting at 6:30 a.m. this Friday, May 17 – eight days sooner than previously expected. WHAT GOVERNOR NEWSOM SAID: “Crews have been working day and night to quickly repair the damage to Highway 1 caused by recent storms, which has disrupted the lives of individuals living in and around Big Sur – limiting access to the area and hampering tourism. Thanks to the diligent efforts, traffic will resume eight days ahead of schedule – bringing relief and a sense of normalcy back to one of California’s most iconic coastal communities.”  This portion of Highway 1 will reopen with the use of a 24/7 signalized traffic control. This temporary signal will provide unrestricted public access with one-way alternating traffic in both the north and southbound directions. “Highway 1 is the jewel of the California highway system and our crews have been working non-stop for the last month and a half so Californians can have unrestricted access to this iconic area of our state,” said Caltrans Director Tony Tavares. “I thank Governor Newsom, Senator John Laird and our elected officials for their unwavering support, the residents and businesses for their patience and the crews for reopening the roadway as quickly and as safely as possible.” “We are deeply grateful to have Highway 1 open and functional an entire week ahead of schedule. I want to sincerely thank Caltrans and the people of Big Sur for their work, effort, and patience through this process,” said State Senator John Laird (D-Santa Cruz). “This was a true team effort, including Governor Newsom and his staff, Caltrans executives and contractors, Assemblymember Dawn Addis, Sheriff Tina Nieto, the California Highway Patrol, Big Sur Fire, and leaders in and the community of Big Sur. Highway 1 is a vital lifeline for communities on the Central Coast, and so our ongoing task will be to ensure this route remains resilient and open.” On March 30, a rockslide below Highway 1 south of the Rocky Creek Bridge left the southbound lane partially undermined and impassable. Approximately 6 feet of the pavement and a portion of an unreinforced masonry retaining wall that supported the highway fell to the ocean about 170 feet below the road. Governor Newsom surveys damage near the Rocky Creek Bridge earlier this month. In order to stabilize the remaining southbound lane and preserve the northbound lane, crews drilled, installed and grouted 40 vertical and 75 sub-horizontal steel elements into the slope. The steel elements, or rock dowels, are covered by an application of shotcrete to protect the exposed rock slope. This work required Caltrans to close the roadway in both directions at Rocky Creek, aside from twice-daily convoys through the slip-out area. Now that Caltrans has stabilized the southbound lane and preserved the northbound lane, the site will continue to be monitored and visually inspected. A project to construct a permanent repair to the highway at this location is currently in the design phase, with an estimated completion date of spring 2025. Earlier this month, the Governor surveyed the work being done at the Highway 1 slip-out and announced state action by signing an emergency proclamation. This action will help secure an estimated $100 million in federal funding for repairs to multiple areas of the state impacted by the recent storms.###  Governor Gavin Newsom 1021 O Street, Suite 9000 Sacramento, CA 95814 Unsubscribe

Kevin Drabinski

Up at the VA Hospital in Palo Alto, there is a spiral that is flanked by rose bushes planted in memory of a loved veteran. It is beautiful and I spent some time there the last time I was up at the VA Hospital. The roses are not identified, except for the vet it was planted to honor. Here are a few of the roses. Happy Mother’s Day to all the mothers reading this. May these roses bring you joy,

As part of the public input process for the County of Monterey’s Housing Element Cycle, a survey has launched and will be open until May 12th. Share your thoughts on how the County can encourage housing for a broad range of income levels to meet our housing goals.

You’ll find the survey at: https://surveymonkey.com/r/9MZCW95. Please share this information widely and share your thoughts.

There are several places where one can barely drive through. (See collage of photos below.)

Genista monspessulana

Synonyms: Cytisus monpsessulana, C. racemosus, C. canariensis, Gensita monspessulana, Teline monspessulana

Common names: French broom; soft broom; canary broom; Montepellier broom

Genista monspessulana (French broom) is a perennial shrub (family Fabaceae) found in the Coast Ranges, Sierra Nevada foothills, Transverse Ranges, Channel Islands and San Francisco Bay area. French broom was introduced as a landscape ornamental, along with Scotch and Spanish broom. French broom is an aggressive invader, forming dense stands that exclude native plants and wildlife. Broom is unpalatable to most livestock except goats, so it decreases rangeland value while increasing fire hazards. These leguminous plants produce copious amounts of seed, and may resprout from the root crown if cut or grazed.Cal-IPC Rating: High

Big Sur Bakery fire leaves a grieving community.

“It was a day or two after Rocky Creek fell apart and Sydney and I were reviewing what we had in the house to eat.  Bread was the only shortage so when we were down on the empty highway, we went searching. First stop was the Bakery with not a soul in sight. The door unlocked and opened as I approached. Mike Gilson, “We’re closed, but not for you”. Empty shelf’s obvious, I mentioned bread, feeling foolish but, “No, no” and I followed him to a small freezer and he pulled out two loaves giving me a verbal tour of their attributes as he did. I suggested the plain sourdough   but he insisted I take the seeded sourdough and so as a compromise he handed me both and refused payment.
At home, partially thawed, the loaves were halved, one for the counter, three in the freezer. Thick, one inch slices, in the toaster, butter and strawberry jam. Mike was right about the specialness of the seeded bread but I wasn’t wrong about the plain.
Yesterday the Bakery burned to a shell. Today I had the last heel of the last loaf, thinking about Mike and kindness and grief.”

Steve Beck

The links in the screen shot are not active. Zoom Option: https://montereycty.zoom.us/j/96244171607

Here are some stills from a video that Ivy took about 1/2 hour ago or 4 pm or so.

 

:17 PM	10	[25] A27-014 ONE HOUSE EMPTY THE OTHER WAS ADVS’D AND TRYING TO MAKE HIS OWN FIRE LINE [Shared]
4:15 PM	9	[22] PER FIRE 3 ENGINES WERE ENRT TO NORTHERN CLOSURE FROM PALO COLARADO [Shared]
4:09 PM	8	[21] 1039 STATE PARKS [Shared]
4:08 PM	7	[19] LATE ENTRY * STATE PARK RANGERS ALSO 1097 [Shared]
4:06 PM	6	[17] 1039 MTY COM [Shared]
4:06 PM	5	[16] A27-014 27-N6 INQ W/ MTY COM IF NEED TO OPEN IT UP FOR FIRE PERSONNEL OR OTHER PERSONNEL [Shared]
4:04 PM	4	[13] A27-014 27-N6 REQ UPDATE FM 14 AND IF THEY WILL NEED TO OPEN UP RDWY FOR FIRE BIG SUR BAKERFY FULL ENGULFED NEG SMOKE IN RDWY [Shared]
3:59 PM	3	[1] STRUCTURE FIRE
3:57 PM	2	[11] [Appended, 16:02:21] [3] RP THINKS FIRE, SEES SMOKE BTWN LOMA VISTA AND POST RANCH INN
3:56 PM	1	[10] [Appended, 16:02:21] [2] TRANS MONT COM

Report of Fire Location:

 47540 Sr1, Mm 45 Loc Desc:

 BIG SUR BAKERY Lat/Lon:

 36.235833 -121.768611 

Detail Information
3:59 PM	3	[1] STRUCTURE FIRE
3:57 PM	2	[11] [Appended, 16:02:21] [3] RP THINKS FIRE, SEES SMOKE BTWN LOMA VISTA AND POST RANCH INN
3:56 PM	1	[10] [Appended, 16:02:21] [2] TRANS MONT COM
Unit Information
4:03 PM	3	Unit At Scene
4:03 PM	2	Unit Enroute
4:02 PM	1	Unit Assigned

Photo by Pearl Bryant

This update contains no new information, but a nice photo. Here it is in any event:

Date:	Thursday, May 2, 2024
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 #16

CONVOYS ON HIGHWAY 1 THROUGH ROCKY CREEK OPEN TO PUBLIC

WITH SOUTHBOUND AFTERNOON RESTRICTIONS

MONTEREY COUNTY – Crews continue to make progress with edge stabilization work at the Highway 1 Rocky Creek slip out. Stabilization of the southbound lane will help safeguard and protect the still viable northbound lane which is accommodating twice daily convoys through the repair site. 

Construction Update

This first phase of the stabilization involves drilling, installing, and grouting in vertical and horizontal steel elements to stabilize the edge of the slip out. This is followed by an application of reinforced shotcrete to the sheer face of the rock slope. A crane has been deployed which carries a crew basket over the edge of the roadway to perform the horizontal drilling. Crews have been scheduled to work both day and overnight shifts.

Upon completion of this repair, the grouted rock dowels with applied shotcrete facing will provide shear resistance along potential failure planes in the rock mass and ensure that the rockslide below the southbound lane does not advance.

This stabilization project is a temporary repair which will allow the resumption of unrestricted traffic flow through the area until a permanent fix can be designed and constructed that would restore the southbound lane that was lost in the rockslide.

Due to high winds in the area, crews have been unable to drill stabilizing horizontal rock dowels into the rock slope since the morning of Monday April 29. To date, 46 of a total of 75 horizontal rock dowels have been installed. Drilling of horizontal dowels is expected to be suspended through this Friday due to forecasted high winds.

During high wind events that halt emergency stabilization work, crews are still able to complete geotechnical subsurface investigations which will advance design of the permanent repair at the site.

Caltrans continues to estimate that the completion date for the initial stabilization work at the Rocky Creek slip out will be Memorial Day, May 27. This would mark the end of the current convoys and allow alternating one-way travel through the area without an escort using 24/7 signalized traffic control. In upcoming weeks this estimate will be updated as production rates on the repair come into better focus.

Convoys Update

There are twice-daily convoys on Highway 1 through the Rocky Creek slip out open to all members of the traveling public. The first convoy will run for approximately an hour beginning at 7 am, and the last convoy will run for approximately an hour beginning at 5 pm. Highway 1 through the Rocky Creek slip out will continue to be closed during the hours between convoys so that crews can continue the repair work to stay on schedule to reopen the roadway by Memorial Day.

Since convoys need time to alternate the travel direction during the one-hour window, travelers are advised to arrive as early as possible to enter the queue. A timely conclusion of the one-hour window is necessary to maintain the road repair schedule.

The public will have access in both directions during the morning convoy. In the afternoon, the public will be able to use the northbound convoy to leave the area. However, only local residents, essential workers, and members of the traveling public with existing travel reservations will be allowed to join the 5 pm southbound convoy. Travelers who go south to Big Sur at 5 pmwill not be able to return north until the next day at 7 am. Highway 1 is closed to all traffic south of the Big Sur area.

Emergency medical response and other essential services may be delayed for those traveling south of Rocky Creek on Highway 1. Travelers who participate in convoys on Highway 1 through Rocky Creek, are advised of the inherent risks involved with entering the area.

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

Currently there are both ground units and air tankers on this fire. “Approx 2 acres with a Slow rate of spread, burning uphill in timber understory with a potential for 5 to 10 acres. No structures immediately threatened at this time. – Per Air Attack.”

See watchduty.org to follow this fire.

I’ve sent off an email to the Caltrans PIO suggesting they might want to rethink letting tourists in until there is all day access. Even then, it could be a nightmare during fire season as long as south is closed as well. Fortunately this is just a rehearsal, and it is too wet to really make a serious run for Big Sur, but it won’t be for long. I just think letting tourists in (and I know businesses pressure CT) seems ill advised when the only way out is blocked and will take 45 mins or more to clear. I so worry about what it will be like during the height of the season — both tourist and fire. I hope CT has a discussion about this.