**UPDATE #5–TRAFFIC ADVISORY**

CALTRANS REOPENS TEMPORARY CLOSURE OF HWY. 1 AT MUD CREEK/PAUL’S SLIDE

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 areas within the closure limits yesterday.  Crews continue cleaning and clearing the roadway from slide activity (rocks and mud), especially at Mud Creek. See photos below. Highway 1, including Mud Creek and Paul’s Slide will fully reopen at 10 am today, Friday, Jan. 18.

Motorists will encounter a flagging operation today with one-way reversing traffic control at the south end of Mud Creek to allow for Caltrans to continue roadwork in this area.

Caltrans’ Geotech, Maintenance and Construction units are on call and prepared to inspect/clean up when each storm ends during the daylight hours and it is safe to be onsite again. Caltrans’ goal is to open the roadway as quickly and safely as possible and our staff remains on-call 24/7

(These photos are from a couple of days ago and previously published yesterday.)

First two are Paul’s Slide, last one is Mud Creek.

Per CHP Website (FYI 10-10 is off duty)

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

MONTEREY COUNTY — Caltrans has received confirmation from National Weather Service (NOAA) data that the third and largest significant storm is forecast to reach the areas of Mud Creek (PM 8.9) and Paul’s Slide (PM 21.6) on State Route 1 in the Big Sur area around mid-day today, Wednesday, Jan. 16.   Highway 1 at Mud Creek and Paul’s Slides will remain closed until further notice.

Heavy storm activity is forecast through Thursday afternoon, Jan. 17.

Businesses along Big Sur Coast Hwy. 1 remain open, 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—we anticipate this to be on Friday morning, Jan. 18 or sooner if conditions allow. 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.

3:35 just heard from 2 individuals that the power is out in Big Sur Valley.

Note: The USGS Big Sur River Discharge Rate website has been added to the links to the right, under 2018-2019 Storm Reports & Road Conditions. It isn’t bad right now, although rising, but tomorrow could be interesting.

Per Cal Trans this afternoon, the road is open to Lucia and the Hermitage from the north. Have no idea about the southern end.

11:15 am – Flash Flood Watch issued by NWS for the Santa Lucia Mountains & Los Padres National Forest, Southern Monterey Bay and the Big Sur Coast.

9:30 am – The South Coast, aka Slide Country, is getting hammered. Note, Mining Ridge rainfall totals have doubled in the last 5 hours! Here are the 24 hour totals:

Cal Trans moved the closure to Ragged Point on the South and Deetjen’s on the North at approximately 6 pm last night. No indication any of the previously open sections have been cleared yet.

4:00 am – as of 3 am, Mining Ridge and Three Peaks have each received almost 2” and Chalk Peak is up to 1.72” It was raining enough to wake me up just now.

Last night after dark, Cal Trans moved the closure to Ragged Point, so apparently, there is a problem BEFORE Mud Creek. Perhaps at Gray Slip, as I have been reporting?

This is the closure in the map below. The only businesses accessible from Nacimiento-Fergusson Road are (N to S) Limekiln State Park, Kirk Creek Campground, Sand Dollar Beach, Plaskett Creek Campground, Treebones, and Gorda.

**TRAFFIC ADVISORY**

CALTRANS ANNOUNCES TEMPORARY CLOSURE OF HWY. 1 AT MUD CREEK/PAUL’S SLIDE

MONTEREY COUNTY — Caltrans has received confirmation from National Weather Service (NOAA) data that a significant storm has reached the areas of Mud Creek (PM 8.9) and Paul’s Slide (PM 21.6) on State Route 1 in the Big Sur area and will close Highway 1 at Mud Creek and Paul’s Slide on Monday, Jan. 14 at Noon (12 PM) until further notice.

The closure initiation process will begin at 10 AM with Electronic Message Signs activated and both sets of gates (Mud Creek and Paul’s Slide) closed by Noon (12 pm).Storm activity is forecast through Thursday, Jan. 17.

Nacimiento-Fergusson Rd. (PM 18.9) is the alternate route to reach Hwy. 1 between Mud Creek and Paul’s Slide. However, there is a 40-ft. length, 12-foot height, 60-ton weight, and 10 mph restriction at one of the bridges along this route. Please feel free to check with Fort Hunter-Liggett for more updated information on their road at: https://www.facebook.com/FortHunterLiggett.

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—we anticipate this to be Friday morning, Jan. 18. 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—both are closing today. Please stay tuned for additional information when the roadway opens again. SEE ATTACHED CLOSURE MAP.

                         **48-HOUR TRAFFIC ADVISORY UPDATE**

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

MONTEREY COUNTY — Caltrans has received confirmation from National Weather Service (NOAA) data that a significant storm is in the forecast to begin in approximately the next 24-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 to inform the public to be prepared for closure of the roadway tentatively scheduled for mid-day Monday, Jan. 14 due to a significant storm. Stand-by for additional information within the next 24 hours and a final notice will be sent when the roadway closes. 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 tentatively on mid-day Monday, Jan. 14. Please stand-by for additional information within the next 24 hours.

Both Mud Creek (PM 8.9) and Paul’s Slide (PM 21.6) sites looked good this morning and the forecast for today/tonight has gone down so there will be no preemptive closure today. Crews will assess again tomorrow.

Winter is here, there is a line of storms in the forecast, there is a possibility we may need to preemptively close Hwy. 1 with less than 48 hours’ notice. Crews will continue to assess the sites, monitor the forecast, and provide an update as conditions warrant.

The storm forecast has changed and gone up significantly with heavy rain predicted Sunday evening and overnight, Jan. 6^th into Jan. 7^th. Crews will assess tomorrow morning (Sunday, Jan. 6) and continue to monitor the forecast.

There is a high likelihood Hwy. 1 at Mud Creek (PM 8.9) and Paul’s Slide (PM 21.6) will each close by 5 pm tomorrow, Sunday, Jan. 6.

An update will be provided by noon tomorrow after staff assessment is made.