Category: Road Conditions

Bigsurkate and other updates

I got back home just before sunset last night, to find my solar power system unresponsive. I relied on the gennie last night, and tried to get the solar online. No luck. Someone had turned the PV switch off, and my gennie was not charging it today. Tomorrow, I have to run to town to replace groceries eaten by my dog sitter, propane for my appliances, restock on critter food, and all the usual, so I won’t get a chance to figure out what is wrong with the solar … Means I better get gas for the gennie back-up, as well, until I can read the manual, call my power guy, or otherwise become brilliant in solar power. I know, but it MIGHT happen!

My dogs sitter may have messed up my solar (or someone else?) but he had a fire laid out for me to Light last night, all four dogs were good, as were two cats, he hauled in firewood for a few days, and with all else, I have been warm, thanks to him.

Blaze got the contract for the Partington Rd clean-up. I understand there was a meeting between Blaze, Cal-Trans, and the Partington Ridge Road Association this morning. Will keep you posted as I can.

Friday the BSMAAC meeting is to be held at the State Park Conference Center, starting at 10 am. I will be attending. Kathleen Lee promised an agenda by end of business today, but so far, it has yet to find my inbox.

We have one more month of overnight closures at Rocky Creek, and then life will get a little easier for all of Big Sur. NOTE – I did not say “normal” – ain’t no such thing in Big Sur.

Glad to be home, and back doin’ what I do.

Bridge Repair

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Sorry, I just couldn’t resist. Found this on FB, and I will gladly give credit, acknowledge, or pay for this if I can find out the photographer.

Cyclists and Chip sealing, Highway 1 Northern SLO Co.

Today’s Date: Tuesday, January 15, 2013
District: 5 – San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, Monterey, San Benito and Santa
Cruz Counties
Contact: Jim Shivers or Colin Jones
Phone: (805) 549-3237 or (805) 549-3189
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CALTRANS/UC DAVIS TO EVALUATE HIGHWAY 1 CHIP SEAL PROJECT

SAN LUIS OBISPO COUNTY – Caltrans officials are partnering with UC pavement researchers to find effective and affordable ways to make cycling a smoother experience along a recently paved section of Highway 1 in northern San Luis Obispo County.

The Caltrans Division of Research and Innovation plans to tap the expertise of the University of California, Davis Pavement Research Center in response to local bicycle enthusiasts who say the chip seal project has made sections of the scenic route a rougher-than-usual ride.

“We’re looking for innovative solutions and are hopeful that this investigation will lead to both short and long-term improvements,” said Caltrans District 5 Director Tim Gubbins. “Caltrans plans to work closely with the local cycling community and UC experts as we sort this out.”

Gubbins said the challenge emerged after cyclists voiced concerns about the recent completion of a 20-mile long chip seal project along Highway 1 from Cambria to the Monterey County line.

The UC Davis researchers are currently developing a scope of work to examine conditions on Highway 1 and offer recommendations about various cost-effective surface treatments and how they would service cyclists as well as all users of the highway. Over the next several months, researchers will consider any positive changes that can be made to the existing pavement surface. The investigation will also include any potential long-term improvements to our chip seal program statewide.

In the meantime, Caltrans will maintain its enhanced sweeping of Highway 1 and repairing potholes.

“We will continue to update the community as new information becomes available,” Gubbins said.

Partington Ridge Slide Photo from up top

Photo by Sula Nichols of Partington Ridge

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What a photo! What a challenge! What a mess! These are the same people who lost houses in the Basin Fire of 2008. They are a tough group. Thanks for sharing your world, Sula.

On another note, repairing this road will be an expensive and private affair. It has been suggested that the road association might want to set up a fund that people could donate to. Carmel Pine Cone indicates it will be 1/2 million dollars to fix. Ouch! I will keep you posted if I learn more.

1/5/12 Storm Report

Significant storm in our midst, and it really picked up here – as in very heavy rain, so heavy and loud the dogs are shaking – in the last few minutes. CHP is reporting that 101, north of Chualar is flooding, and cars are spinning out. I am trying to upload some radar and vapor satellite photos, but no luck at the moment. In any event, please be careful if you are going to be out and about tonight. Avoid it, if you aren’t already out.

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Photo, Rocky Creek Viaduct Project

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Recent photo of the Rocky Creek Viaduct project provided by CalTrans.

Defective signals at Bixby Bridge?

Well, that makes no sense, as there are no signals at Bixby Bridge, so I am assuming … Rightly or wrongly .. That the CHP website means Rocky Creek. Are they again? Or did someone run the light, or someone fail to trigger the sensor? Only the Shadow knows …

Details 00556 5:03 PM Defective Traffic Signals Sr1 / Bixby Brdg 36.372222 -121.902500 Monterey

While CalTrans says the road is open this weekend, Mother Nature may have other plans

Here it comes, here it comes …

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NOAA is expecting most of this to remain off shore, which would help keep the road open.

An inch of snow is is expected on my mountain tonight, most of you will just get rain. Rainfall is expected to be rather light, around .25-.50 of an inch, but up to an inch in coastal mountains. Temps are dropping rapidly after sunset, and I may sleep through the snow. Darn, I left my camera in the car, again! If worth reporting in the morning, my iPad has a camera and I will take a photo or two.

It may be that we luck out and rainfall will not be significant enough to cause troubles on the highway. BTW, went south today, and while I see a couple potential trouble spots – Mud Creek is moving and Alder Creek is oozing under the netting put up to protect the road, all-in-all, it is looking good. Maybe we are getting it all over with early in the slip and slide season? One can only hope, as March is typically our worse month.

Highway One to remain open all weekend!

*Update #5*
HIGHWAY 1 SOUTH OF BIG SUR WILL BE OPEN TO UNRESTRICTED WEEKEND TRAFFIC TONIGHT AT PARTINGTON RIDGE ROAD; ONE-WAY TRAFFIC CONTROLS TO RESUME ON MONDAY, DEC. 31

MONTEREY COUNTY – Highway 1 will be open to unrestricted, two-way traffic this weekend a few miles south of Big Sur where a major rock slide occurred on Sunday afternoon, Dec. 23, Caltrans District 5 has announced.

Caltrans has mobilized an emergency contractor to assist state crews in clearing the large debris field, repairing a 60-foot section of the damaged roadway and stabilizing the slide area above Highway 1 at Partington Ridge Road.

As a result, crews will open the roadway with no restrictions at 5 pm this afternoon, Friday, Dec. 28. At 7 am on Monday, Dec. 31, one-way traffic controls with flaggers will be in effect through the slide area, which remains a very active repair/ cleanup zone. Motorists can expect 20 minute delays during this daytime roadwork.

Again, Highway 1 will remain open 24/7 for the entire weekend beginning tonight at 5 pm for motorists and cyclists, who are advised to use extra caution when traveling through this roadway section. There is some rough pavement and loose gravel still present near the slide area.

Huge backup NB highway one

Incident: 00512 Type: Defective Traffic Signals Location: Sr1 N / Rocky Creek TBM/LatLon: 36.378889 -121.902500
Detail Information
6:07 PM 6 [10] 1039 MONT COM / FOR SO UNIT TO ASSIST
6:06 PM 5 [8] B27-022 22B VIA LL NO CALTRANS NEEDS ASSIST WITH 1184, TRAFFIC IS REALLY BACKED UP
6:00 PM 4 [7] B27-022 MORE TRAFFIC HEADING NB THAN SB
6:00 PM 3 [6] B27-022 LIGHTS FUNCTIONING PROPERLY TRAFFIC BACKED UP
5:15 PM 2 [2] RP THINKS DUE TO THE TEMPORARY SIGNAL AT ROCKY CREEK BRIDGE
5:15 PM 1 [1] TRAFFIC BACKED UP TO LITTLE SUR RIVER
Unit Information
5:24 PM 2 Unit Assigned
6:00 PM 1 Unit At Scen