No change in Mud Creek. Paul’s Slide had a signal malfunction today, but otherwise, the same, and the bridge continues to get its final touches. Photos of Mud Creek taken last Wednesday, 1/31.
Highway Closure Update, 2/5/18
Category: Road Conditions
Highway One closure update
Photos: 1-3 of Mud Creek (PM 8.9) from Wednesday, Jan. 4 and Thursday, Jan. 5; photos 4-5 of Pfeiffer Canyon Bridge (PM 45.52) of AC grinding from Wednesday, Jan. 4 .
Everything about Mud Creek, Paul’s Slide, and the Pfeiffer Canyon Bridge remains unchanged, but additional work is:
ADDITIONAL WORK—CALPORTLAND PAVING BETWEEN LUCIA (PM 23) AND JUST SOUTH OF PCB (45.52)
Wednesday (1-10) – Grind Deli/Post office parking lot in two sections (1/2 at a time) to keep some parking spaces available.
Thursday (1-11) – Pave the Deli/Post office parking lot.
Friday (1-12) – Pave mainline Hwy 1 from PM 44.8-45.3, which is through the Deli/post office area.
The absurdity of a food truck at Bixby Bridge, 1/6/18
Yes, that is a “food truck” in the form of a trailer. And yes, it set up shop on the Bixby Bridge turnout. And yes, that is a customer standing in line. At one point, I am informed, the line was edging over the white fog line. Thanks Ken Ecklund for taking the photo and Martha for sending it. I will make sure and send this on.
Highway 1 closure update, 12/18/17
Photos: 1-3 of Mud Creek (PM 8.9) from Wednesday, Dec. 13 ; photos 4-6 of Pfeiffer Canyon Bridge (PM 45.52) from Monday, Dec. 11 .
HIGHWAY 1 UPDATE – Monday, Dec. 18
State Route 1 in Monterey County remains closed from north of Salmon Creek, just south of the Ranger Station (PM 3) to just south of Gorda (PM 10) due to the Mud Creek slide. State Route 1 south of Salmon Creek is accessible via State Route 1 in San Luis Obispo County near Ragged Point.
REMINDER: Travelers still CANNOT access the entire length of Highway 1 from Carmel to Cambria but local businesses are open on both sides of Mud Creek.
Mud Creek (PM 8.9)
Mud Creek had a major slide on Saturday, May 20, 2017, losing over 5 million cubic yards of material. Caltrans continues with its plan to realign the existing terrain with the projected timeline to safely open to public traffic is late-summer 2018 at an estimated cost of $40 million.
Last week, the contractor continued placing rock revetment, working from the north going south and will place rock revetment across the entire toe. Also, construction continues of the south fill embankment. These same operations will continue this week.
There is currently no public/local access through the Mud Creek area since this remains an active, emergency construction zone.
Paul’s Slide (PM 21.6)
Paul’s Slide is still active but the 24/7 traffic signal remains in place and temporary guardrail (k-rail) in the centerline.
Pfeiffer Canyon Bridge [PCB] (PM 45.52)
Final work continues for several weeks. Roadwork at Pfeiffer Canyon Bridge consists of alternating lane closures from 7 am to 4 pm Mondays through Thursdays and 7 am to 2 pm on Fridays until work is complete. Last week the contractor continued with prep and painting on the girders; installed the joint seal assemblies; performed permanent seeding and mulching, and completed the underground electrical for the seismic sensors. This week, the contractor will continue painting the girders, finish permanent seeding, remove concrete debris in turnout south of the project, and perform concrete finishing on structure—activities this week will require lane closures, as mentioned above.
Caltrans reminds motorists to move over and slow down when driving through highway work zones.
The next update will be on Wednesday, Dec. 27. Happy Holidays to all!!! ☺
Susana Z. Cruz nature-flower-blue-motif[1]
Man falls out of moving car at JPB, Big Sur
FROM KION TV:
BIG SUR, Calif. – A man is unconscious after falling from a moving car on Highway 1 south of Big Sur.
According to Monterey County officials, the man fell out of a car around 11:45 a.m. near Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park, Tuesday.
Witnesses reported the male victim was down in the middle of the road and not waking up.
Authorities told KION the car is at the scene but it’s unclear at this time if someone else was driving the vehicle at the time of the incident.
A tow truck is on the way, and the man is being flown to the hospital.
KION will update this article as more details become available.
The Perils of Nacimiento Road.
Yesterday, the trip down Nacimiento was even more perilous than usual. I was just so glad Rock Knocker was driving. First were a string of 4 Super 10 trucks, fully loaded, without a guide vehicle; then there were two tractor trailer rigs, we had to back way up because they couldn’t make the corner without using the whole frigging road; then there was a regular 10 yard followed by the propane delivery in his regular rig. It was quite the experience. Of course, coming home we had to be on the look out for the return of these same vehicles. The first were the 4 Super 10 trucks, they were early and we were still in the flats along the river. We stopped and talked to the propane guy, and even HE is worried about that little bridge (time for me to call again, since I never got the report on the last inspection). After that, we were about 1/2 way up to the summit and Rock Knocker yelled, “There they are.” I hadn’t seen them, but he had – the tractor trailer rigs without a lead car. Rock Knocker had to back up, down hill, with me completely on the edge – and as afraid of heights as I am, that was no fun a’tall.
At least we don’t have a Harvey or an Irma or the floods in Bangladesh and the wildfires of Montana, Idaho, Oregon, Washington, and No Cal, right? I think Mother Nature is fed up with us all over the world, not just here in Big Sur. If this is any precursor of the winter ahead, we are in deep doodoo.
Dispersed Camping on Nacimiento Rd to be banned
The paperwork has been completed to ban dispersed camping along Nacimiento-Fergusson Rd. It is currently out of the district for review before it comes back for signature. We won’t know for sure how long it will be banned until the order comes back into the district. It is not in effect until signed, but it is a very good step.
Traffic Issues are back, 7/3/17
5 pm update – from a follower: “today was ugly, be aware and on the lookout, sobranes, garrapatta, rocky creek & bixby all way overcrowded and people parking in the highway”
Due, at least in part, to an aggressive campaign by the Monterey Visitors and Convention Bureau, the traffic issues we have been without are back with a vengeance. And this is just since the trail opened to the public on Saturday. Imagine what is coming when Paul’s Slide opens this month. Fire danger, anyone? What is the plan? Or *IS* there a plan?
At Point Lobos: 11:26 AM 1 [1] 20 VEHS PARKED ILLEGALLY
At Soberanes Point: 12:00 PM 1 [1] 3 VEHS PART 1125 [blocking roadway]
And at Hurricane Point and Bixby Bridge:
11:08 AM 4 [21] Incident Re-opened: STATE PARKS HAD RPT OF NAILS BEING DELIBERATLY DROPPED ON BIXBY BRIDGE
8:22 AM 3 [18] A27-022 22 1097 THE AREA [10-97 arrived at scene]
7:46 AM 2 [3] RP DOES NOT NEED ASSIST FOR HIS VEH ( 12 GRY NISS PATHFINDER)
7:46 AM 1 [2] RP ADV ON THE SHOULDER AND ON THE EDGE OF THE ROAD
And a friend in town stated that at noon, there was an 8-mile backup of cars on Highway One.
And this was Garapatta yesterday. (Photo by Martha Diehl)
Big Sur State Park Opening & Highway Closure Map
Highway One Closure Update & Photos, 2/6/17
Photos from this weekend of: 1) Temporary Mesh Netting installed at Big Creek/Cow Cliffs (Sat-PM 28.5); 2) Rock fall at Lucia (Sun-PM 23); Rock fall at Paul’s (Sun-PM 26.10); and Partington Ridge (this am—PM 38.6)
***NEW INFORMATION***
The weekend’s inclement weather gave us various small slides at multiple locations, but thankfully and diligently, we have been able get the roadway clear and provide good news for tomorrow morning, weather permitting.
EFFECTIVE TOMORROW MORNING, TUESDAY, FEB. 7 AT 7 AM (WEATHER PERMITTING):
*DUE TO MORE SLIDE MATERIAL AT PAUL’S SLIDE (PM 21.6), All Motorists may travel north on Hwy. 1 from Cambria to Limekiln Creek Bridge (PM 21.3) or south on Hwy. 1 from Carmel to Lucia (PM 23).
*If you have been following our updates, you know we have dealt with various challenges, below is the status:
1) Mud Creek (PM 8.8)—continues with drilling taking place and daytime one-way traffic control (flagging). However, slide material continues to come down. Expect 20-30 minute delays.
2) The culvert has been replaced/repaired at PM 14.4 and is no longer covered with steel plates just north of Sand Dollar Beach (PM 13.85).
3) At Paul’s Slide (PM 21.6), although we have a temporary stop sign and eventually a traffic signal—MORE MATERIAL IS COMING DOWN AND THERE IS STILL A FULL CLOSURE AT PAUL’S. (see photo).
4) There was a small slide at Lucia (PM 23) this weekend, but has been cleared. (see photo)
5) Temporary mesh netting took place this Saturday at Big Creek/Cow Cliffs (PM 28.35), allowing the roadway to open at this location. (see photo)
6) There was a slide this morning at Partington Ridge (PM 38.6), necessitating the roadway to close at Fuller’s but has been cleared and will be open to traffic. (see photo).
The roadway is not passable between PAUL’S SLIDE (PM 21.6) and LUCIA (PM 23).
Thank you for your patience and understanding. Our Maintenance, Geotech and Construction crews continue to work collaboratively and diligently, as much as safely possible in response to these rock/mudslides.
Another update will be provided on around tomorrow, Tuesday, Feb. 7 afternoon, or sooner if conditions change.
Susana Z. Cruz nature-flower-blue-motif[1]
Caltrans District 5
Acting Manager
Public Information Office