I love these. I’ve been trying to upload these since noon on Friday! Ugh
Category: Pitkin’s Curve
Ribbon Cutting at Rock Shed
What fun this was this afternoon. Dave Potter, County Supervisors, Tim Gibbons, Cal Trans District Director, and Kirk Gafill all gave speeches. Cal Trans gave Ken Wright, Harry Harris, and myself a framed certificate for being the local representatives on the Design and Aesthetics committee. Here are just a few photos I got of the place and event.
All those loose rocks were placed to make it more natural. It is still pretty shiny, but that will fade. It is anti-graffiti protection.
Thanks to Charlie Hench who made sure to accommodate my handicap. Thanks Charlie!
*IMPORTANT NOTICE OF OVERNIGHT CLOSURES AT PITKINS CURVE/RAIN ROCKS
Today’s Date: Thursday, November 21, 2013
District: 05 – Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo, Monterey, San Benito and Santa
Cruz Counties
Contact: Susana Z Cruz (bilingual) or Jim Shivers
Phone: (805) 549-3138 or 549-3189
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
HIGHWAY 1/PITKINS CURVE BRIDGE AND ROCKSHED PROJECT—THREE OVERNIGHT CLOSURES STARTING SUNDAY, NOV. 24
MONTEREY COUNTY — The Highway 1 Bridge and Rockshed at Pitkin’s Curve (post-mile 21.5) will be closing for three nights, starting Sunday, Nov. 24, Caltrans officials announced today.
Overnight work hours/closures will be from 10 pm to 6 am Sunday night Nov. 24, Monday, Nov. 25, and Tuesday, Nov. 26 (opening on Wednesday, Nov. 27 at 6 am)
A full closure is needed to allow for the installation of the bridge joint seal assemblies. Only emergency vehicles will be allowed through. Flaggers will be present at each end of the project enforcing the closure. Detour consists of using Hwy. 46/Hwy. 101/Hwy. 68.
The ¼ – mile project limits extends from just north of Limekiln Creek Bridge to south of Lucia. The project includes a rockshed, a bridge, and a retaining wall.
“We are excited to see this project approaching completion,” said Caltrans District 5 Director Tim Gubbins. The entire project is scheduled to be completed in January, weather permitting.
Pitkins/Rain Rocks, early photos
Those were taken in 2011, I think, when the project first started. The next one was taken about 10 years ago, just south of the current rock shed. This should be fun!
So, I’ll be interested in seeing what a good El Niño year does. Not this year, as it is “El Niño neutral” at least thru next spring according to NOAA.
Pitkins Curve/Rockshed Project
HIGHWAY 1/PITKINS CURVE BRIDGE AND ROCKSHED PROJECT—NEARING COMPLETION
MONTEREY COUNTY — Highway 1 Bridge and Rockshed at Pitkins Curve (post-mile 21.5) is nearing completion, Caltrans officials announced today.
The ¼ – mile project limits extends from just north of Limekiln Creek Bridge to south of Lucia. The project includes a rockshed, a bridge, and a retaining wall.
Some of the most significant benefits of this project include:
The project will severely reduce motorists’ encounters with a falling rock and/or a land slide.
The project should greatly reduce any period of closure of the highway at this location due to a major slide.
The cost of maintaining this stretch of highway will be greatly reduced as a result of this project.
The ride will be much more pleasant than it was before (smoother ride, unique structures, more impressive view).
“We are excited to see this project approaching completion,” said District 5 Director Tim Gubbins. The entire project is scheduled to be completed in January, weather permitting.
The contractor for this $29.5 million project is Golden State Bridge Inc. of Martinez, CA.
Full closure at Rain Rocks Rock shed Monday, 6/10 midnight – 6 am
Today’s Date: Thursday, June 6, 2013
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
SIX-HOUR CLOSURE OF HIGHWAY 1/PITKINS CURVE BRIDGE AND ROCKSHED PROJECT—EARLY MONDAY MORNING, JUNE 10
MONTEREY COUNTY —Highway 1 at Pitkins Curve (post-mile 21.5) will be fully closed from 12:01 (after midnight) until 6 am on Monday, June 10 for the removal of a temporary trestle or working platform near the rockshed, Caltrans officials announced today.
The full six-hour early morning closure is necessary to remove this platform. Electronic message signs will be posted to alert motorists.
The detour is Hwy. 68, U.S. Hwy. 101 to either Nacimiento-Fergusson Road or Hwy. 46.
The ¼ – mile project limits are from just north of Limekiln Creek Bridge to south of Lucia. The project includes a rockshed, a bridge, and a retaining wall.
“We are excited to provide limited traffic on the new bridge as project completion nears,” said District 5 Director Tim Gubbins. The entire project is scheduled to be done this fall.
Overnight closure at Pitkins Canceled.
Thursday night’s closure from 11pm to 6 am Friday was just canceled.
“Perilous” Highway One
Great article on the tunnel at Devils Slide, near SF, and our own rock shed. See here:N.Y. Times by the way, the way newspapers often work is this link may only be good for today, Monday, March 25 th.
Pitkin’s Bridge
Photo by Andrew Borrelli, CalTrans inspector.
Yesterday, Rock Knocker was able to drive across the bridge and called me very excited. He won’t get his photos to me until Saturday, at which time I will post them, if possible.
Today, CalTrans released this:
“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
HIGHWAY 1/PITKINS CURVE BRIDGE AND ROCKSHED PROJECT CONTINUES
MONTEREY COUNTY—A permanent slide repair project which began in December 2009 to construct a bridge, rockshed and a retaining wall at Hwy. 1/Pitkins Curve will now allow one lane of traffic to drive on the new bridge as of yesterday, March 19, Caltrans officials have announced.
The ¼ mile project limits are from just north of Limekiln Creek Bridge to south of Lucia. Roadwork is currently being done with one-way traffic control and a signal in operation 24/7. The project includes a rockshed, a bridge, and a retaining wall.
“We are excited to provide limited traffic on the new bridge as project completion nears,” said District 5 Director Tim Gubbins. The entire project is scheduled to be done this fall.”
My sources say a ribbon-cutting ceremony is planned for early August.
Rain Rocks Rock Shed
I have a series of photos taken over the past two weeks that shows the project. I thought my readers would be interested to see what has been going on.
This one was taken just before last week’s overnight closure. One can see the Rebar topping the shed in preparation for adding the roof.
Monday, July 9, 2012, I had the “pleasure” of driving between the rock shed and the mountain. That was an experience! This photo and the next two will give you a feel for that. I had to take these photos AS I WAS DRIVING with my iPhone, so excuse the quality. You get the idea.
Then, yesterday, Monday, July 16, 2012, I got to drive under the new shed. These photos depict that experience. Again, I was multi-tasking – taking photos while driving. This time with my Nikon.
And there you have it! You have now “driven” thru what is sure to become a world-famous rock shed via the miracle of cyberspace! Quite a feat. It is scheduled to be completed by Spring of 2013.