UPDATE #9

CONVOY SCHEDULE TO CHANGE ON HIGHWAY 1 EFFECTIVE WEDNESDAY APRIL 9 THROUGH ROCKY CREEK REPAIR SITE

MONTEREY COUNTY– Daily convoys on Highway 1 through the Rocky Creek repair site, previously scheduled for 8 am and 4 pm, will move to a 7 am and 5 pm schedule starting Wednesday April 10. The new 7 am and 5 pm convoy hours were decided on after consultations with community stakeholders and in collaboration with the Monterey County Department of Emergency Management. 

Convoys are intended for the use of local residents and essential workers only. Limiting the volume of vehicles through the repair site is one strategy which is helping manage the risks associated with conditions at the slip out and with emergency response.

Public safety personnel have been consistent in their support for limiting convoys to residents and essential workers. There are limited public safety resources staged south of the closure area. Additionally, emergency responses through the closure area are complicated by the presence of heavy machinery staged in the northbound lane which could take up to an hour to remove. 

Caltrans is reviewing daily updates from the National Weather Service which is forecasting rain later this week. An update on any possible cancellation of convoys will be provided on Wednesday April 10.

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

The Monterey County Sheriff’s Office has lifted the Evacuation Warning for areas of Big Sur south of the Highway 1 Rocky Creek Slip Out (Post Mile 60) to the Dolan Slide (Post Mile 29.5).

A hazard advisory remains in place for Highway 1 at Rocky Creek, as repair work at the site continues to limit access in and out of Big Sur. Visitors are recommended to avoid the area. Daily Caltrans convoys may be suspended due to storms or changes in site safety.

Residents are encouraged to maintain adequate supplies of medications and medical equipment to ensure preparedness in the event of future impacts to EMS transportation and access to hospitals and medical services beyond the slip out. Continue Monitoring local media, social media, and Alert Monterey County for updates. Call 9-1-1 if you have a life-threatening emergency.

Alerts: alertmry.org/alerts

More Info: alertmry.org/rockycreek

Date:	Sunday, April 7, 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 #8

HIGHWAY 1 CONVOYS THROUGH ROCKY CREEK CONTINUE/MOBILIZATION BEGINS IN THE EFFORT TO STABILIZE THE HIGHWAY

MONTEREY COUNTY– The daily convoys on Highway 1 through the site of the Rocky Creek Slip Out will continue daily at 8 am and 4 pm following assessments by Caltrans engineers this weekend. These convoys are primarily intended for residents and essential employees. Convoys are expected to occur all this week due to favorable weather conditions.

Caltrans Engineers and contractor forces continue to monitor the site for any significant changes and the public will be advised of any modifications to this schedule.

The installation of K-Rail, crash cushions and temporary striping at the site was completed yesterday. Ongoing site preparations will continue today. The Contractor is scheduled to mobilize on Monday, April 8 with the drilling of vertical anchors in the southbound lane of Route 1 to begin on Tuesday, April 9.

The contractor is working with Caltrans through the weekend with the goal of having a schedule for the completion of the temporary roadway stabilization. Details of this operation, work hours and timetable will be announced when plans are finalized.

Updates on the status of the closure of Highway 1 at the Rocky Creek Bridge will be provided as more information becomes available.

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

We will be hosting a partial eclipse viewing party at the Big Sur Station for local residents and employees. We have safety glasses to share (if you have some bring them too), a solar scope, pinhole camera cards, and livestream of the total eclipse from NASA. The eclipse is from 10 am to 12 pm with our peak 36% coverage at 11:11 am. Feel free to bring your own coffee, breakfast/lunch and folding chairs to make it a picnic. 

This will be out in front of the MAF building. Parking is available in the pine ridge lot with some spaces in the 20 minute zone. Tim will have the LPFA store open if you’d like to pick up some Big Sur merchandise, maps, field guides, and books. There are some great new kids books to chose from. 

~Sara

Sara Howlett

State Park Interpreter I, Big Sur Sector

California State Parks

Date:	Saturday, April 6, 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 #7

HIGHWAY 1 CONVOYS THROUGH ROCK CREEK RESUMED THIS MORNING

MONTEREY COUNTY– The daily convoys on Highway 1 through the site of the Rocky Creek Slip Out resumed this morning, Saturday, April 6 at 8 am and are scheduled again at 4 pm following positive assessments by Caltrans engineers early this morning. These convoys are primarily intended for residents and essential employees.

Caltrans Engineers and maintenance staff continue to monitor the site for any significant changes and the public will be advised of any modifications to this schedule.

Activities this week included the addition of gravel to the drainage ditch off the shoulder of the northbound lane to ensure proper drainage through the site. Work was also completed to pave over a gravel-filled ditch and part of the dirt shoulder of the northbound lane to gain extra room in the travel lane.

Caltrans is continuing to focus on repair strategies to stabilize the edge of the roadway with details of this operation, work hours and timetable to be announced when details are certain.  Work activities to commence this weekend include the installation of barrier to protect highway workers and temporary re-striping to accommodate equipment expected to be mobilized to this area.

Updates on the status of the closure of Highway 1 at the Rocky Creek Bridge will be provided as more information becomes available.

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

Date:	Friday, April 5, 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 #6

HIGHWAY 1 CONVOYS EXPECTED TO RESUME THIS WEEKEND PENDING FINAL ASSESSMENTS BY CALTRANS ENGINEERS

MONTEREY COUNTY– The daily convoys on Highway 1 through the site of the Rocky Creek Slip Out are expected to resume on Saturday, April 6 at 8 am and again at 4 pm pending final assessments by Caltrans engineers scheduled to take place early tomorrow morning.

Caltrans Engineers and maintenance staff continue to monitor the site for any significant changes and the public will be advised of any modifications to this schedule.

Activities this week included the addition of gravel to the drainage ditch off the shoulder of the northbound lane to ensure proper drainage through the site. Work was also completed to pave over a gravel-filled ditch and part of the dirt shoulder of the northbound lane to gain extra room in the travel lane.

Caltrans is continuing to focus on repair strategies to stabilize the edge of the roadway with details of this operation, work hours and timetable to be announced when details are certain.  Work activities to commence this weekend include the installation of barrier to protect highway workers and temporary re-striping to accommodate equipment expected to be mobilized to this area.

Updates on the status of the closure of Highway 1 at the Rocky Creek Bridge will be provided as more information becomes available.

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

I have been going back through blog posts from the last Rocky Creek Slip out from 13 years ago to see how long it took to get the road passable. Let’s begin at the beginning. March 16, 2011. Big Sur was cut off from the north. It wouldn’t be long before a slide at Alder Creek cut off Big Sur to the South. Nacimiento was the only way out — until the slide at Limekiln cut off that route as well. It was an incredibly dynamic March that year.

This is the day it happened: https://bigsurkate.blog/2011/03/16/road-closed/ Read all about it and see the photos people shared.

March 24, 2011, 8 days after the road slipped out, Caltrans closed it to all traffic — foot and pedestrian so they could drill for 250 soil nails. People had been able to traverse it to get out or back in some days that week. “CHP will be on site 24/7 starting today so no foot traffic until further notice. There will be another meeting on the 29th at 1:00 p.m. and a decision on foot traffic will be made then. ” https://bigsurkate.blog/2011/03/23/report-on-meeting-with-cal-trans-about-closure/ See my blog for photos and further.

By March 29, 2011, pedestrian crossing was allowed only twice a day. “one report out of today’s meeting is Ped access starting tomorrow. 7:00 am and again at 4PM only until the last pedestrian in line AT THAT TIME is across. Escorted. The second important piece of information is that it is looking like a one lane opening will not happen in the middle of the month, closer to the end. Also, there will be a weight restriction of 5 tons, which will heavily impact the businesses and campgrounds. Further, this one lane with weight restriction could be in place for up to a year.” See blog post here for more info and photos. https://bigsurkate.blog/2011/03/29/tuesdays-news-views/

Rocky Creek Update

The permanent viaduct construction did not begin until September of 2012. For the first press release about this and the overnight closures see: http://bigsurkate.blog/2012/09/28/rocky-creek-viaduct-closure-press-release-number-1/

Here are two photos sent to me by Ben Grasmuck, CHP, retired, who was working highway 1 in Big Sur, and his comment that he left on this post after the photos.

Ben’s comment:
“A lot happened in the months after the slide.  Officer Mike Hamilton and I alternated living down there at the MAF for a month.  It was one of the busiest months I ever spent on the Highway Patrol and i didn’t write a ticket, work a traffic collision or arrest anyone.  I look back on it very fondly, I spent a month helping people and that was pretty much it.  It was a busy month.  ”

On March 16, 2011, twelve miles south of Carmel, California, the southbound lane of Highway 1
sustained a catastrophic failure when part of the roadway suddenly collapsed into the Pacific Ocean. This year, Saturday, March 30th, the day before Easter, the southbound land of Highway 1 slid into the ocean. The mountains and Mother Nature keep sending us a message.

And there you have the history of the 2011 Rocky Creek slip-out. It should help you make plans and understand whatI MIGHT happen again, this time around.

Hello everyone,

I have gotten questions from local residents/employees about what businesses are still open in the Big Sur Valley so I did some calling around this afternoon. If you are a resident in Big Sur during these closures, please help support our local businesses if you need things at the general stores or grab a meal at a local restaurant.

This information is subject to change and it is always good to check with local businesses daily to see if they are open, I will list phone numbers.

As far as State Parks are concerned- all CA State Parks are currently closed in the Big Sur Area. The Big Sur Station remains open from 9am-4pm -667-2315

Local USFS trail systems that are still open for day hiking include the Pine Ridge Trail and Boronda Trail. Updated park information can be found on our websites www.parks.ca.gov/pbssp

North to South

Big Sur River Inn- Operating on a day-by-day schedule- call for more information 667-2700

Today Thursday April 4th- Gas services open 9:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m.

                General Store- 9:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m.

                Restaurant- will be serving from 3:00 p.m.-7:00 p.m. (with local music by Tracy Chesebrough and friends at 5:00 p.m.)

Big Sur Health Center- Normal operating hours 667-2580

                Monday-Friday 10:00 am- 1:00 pm and 2:00 pm-5:00 pm

Big Sur Campgrounds and Cabins- Currently Closed https://www.bigsurcamp.com/

Riverside Campground and Cabins- Currently Closed through April 11^th https://www.riversidecampground.com/

Ripplewood Resort- 667-2242

                General Store and Gas Station 8:00 a.m.- 6:00 p.m.

                Café- Breakfast 8:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m.

Glen Oaks- Motel closed through April 11^th 667-2105

                Roadhouse- Open with a limited menu 9:00 a.m.-2:30 p.m. 667-2370

Fernwood- 667-2422

                General Store- 8:00 a.m.- 9:00 p.m.

                Restaurant- 12:00 p.m.- 9:00 p.m.

Big Sur Lodge- 667-3100

                Lobby/Café and General Store- Open 11:00 a.m.- 4:00 p.m.

                                Specials on Sunday on the Patio from 12:00 p.m.-3:00 p.m.

Big Sur Center Deli and Taphouse- Normal hours

                Deli open 7:00 a.m.-8:00 p.m. 667-2225

                Taphouse open 12:00 p.m. -9:00 p.m. (kitchen closes at 8) 667-2197

Nepenthe- Currently Closed through April 5- Check back for updateswww.nepenthe.com  667-2345

Deetjens- 667-2378

                Breakfast 8:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m.

                Dinner 5:30-7:00 p.m. reservations recommended.

~Sara

Sara Howlett

State Park Interpreter I, Big Sur Sector

California State Parks