Category: Road Conditions

Partington Slide Update – highway open

Today’s Date: Thursday, December 27, 2012 at 4:45 pm
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

*Update #4*
HIGHWAY 1 SOUTH OF BIG SUR IS NOW OPEN TO UNRESTRICTED TRAFFIC TONIGHT AT PARTINGTON RIDGE ROAD; ONE-WAY TRAFFIC CONTROLS TOMORROW, DEC. 28

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

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

As a result, crews opened the roadway at 4 pm this afternoon. At 7 am tomorrow, Friday, Dec. 28, 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 time.

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

The highway had been shut down just south of Deetjens Big Sur Inn (Mile Marker 42) and at Lucia (Mile Marker 23) since Sunday afternoon. Our contractor and crews will resume roadwork on Monday then again on Wednesday after New Year’s Day from dawn until dusk until final repairs are made.

Highway closure update, and plans

From CalTrans this evening:

HIGHWAY 1 SOUTH OF BIG SUR TO REMAIN CLOSED OVERNIGHT AT PARTINGTON RIDGE ROAD DUE TO A ROCK SLIDE; ONE LANE TO OPEN TOMORROW, DEC. 27

MONTEREY COUNTY – Highway 1 remains CLOSED overnight a few miles south of Big Sur due to a major rock slide that occurred on Sunday afternoon, Dec. 23.

Caltrans has mobilized an emergency contractor to clear the large debris field and to repair a 60-foot section of the damaged roadway at Partington Ridge Road.

As a result, crews will open ONE LANE at 8 am, noon and 4 pm tomorrow, Thursday, Dec. 27 to allow vehicular and bicycle traffic through the slide area, which remains a very active and dynamic repair/cleanup zone. So traffic flow will be strictly controlled during these times.

2d Partington Slide, 12/26/12

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These first two photos are CalTrans photos, this is what it looked like BEFORE RK got there. the next six are by Rock Knocker, and you can see the “after” of the first CT photo is number 6 in RK’s. (okay, CT photos not loading right away, so be back in a bit.)

This gives you an idea of what is going on …

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This shows what is on the verge on coming down, and helps to show why CT needs to keep this closed while they figure out how to deal with this.

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It takes a village to keep THIS ROAD open … And geologists, and engineers, and heavy equipment operators, and machines!

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All Photos by Rock Knocker

12/26/12 Road and Weather Conditions Updates

11 am – from our local CHP (in comments below):

“Hi Kate, This slide is at Partington Ridge Road. They don’t have an estimated time to open the road, they’ll know more in a few hours. NO ONE IS BEING ALLOWED THROUGH RIGHT NOW. NO ONE! They are putting equipment in place to get started.

Ben”
9:30 am – all local stations reporting Highway One closed, with no ETA for opening.

8:30 – that blue skies didn’t last long, up here, anyway.

7:30 am – blue skies – great news for CT. NWS continues scattered shower activity over most of the region.

Detail Information
6:51 AM 4 [10] 1039 ETAC OFCR CROSSON
6:45 AM 3 [7] SIG ALERT SENT
6:36 AM 2 [4] THERE IS NO ETA FOR OPENING AT THIS TIME
6:35 AM 1 [1] **HWY 1 IS CLOSED **

Unknown at this time whether this is the Partington Slide, or another, as Partington wasn’t being reported by CHP yesterday afternoon and evening. It is listed as 23 mm 1, which would be Lucia.

There were periods of extremely heavy rainfall here last night, beginning around six pm, so this could be anywhere. My rain gauge is showing just under an inch. Will update as I obtain more information.

Road Condions and Weather in Big Sur on Christmas Day

I am getting private requests for road conditions in Big Sur, so I decided I’d better post. While the CHP website does not have the closure listed anymore, I have experienced in the past that they often take continuous closures off their website. I do not know if it is open or closed, but CalTrans continues to report it closed on their website. ” I IS CLOSED FROM LUCIA TO FULLERS POINT /IN BIG SUR/ (MONTEREY CO) 3- DUE TO A ROCK SLIDE – MOTORISTS ARE ADVISED TO USE AN ALTERNATE ROUTE BIG SUR AREA BUSINESSES ARE OPEN.” I do know the road closed signs were still up today, and some people went through anyway. I also imagine that in the dark, and the pounding rain I have had tonight, it could turn into a nightmare. I do have a photo taken today, but writing for permission to use it. Once given, it will be posted at the bottom of this post.

I do know that the area can be dangerous, as many parts of this highway during the winter can be and I would be hesitant to advise family or friends to take that route, unless they were familiar with the dangers – I would feel very responsible if something were to happen to them. Additionally, more rain is expected tonight and tomorrow, and conditions could become treacherous at a moments notice. This is what is coming.

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Whatever your personal decision is about traveling this road, i hope you opt for safety over expediency, and always stay aware. A tiny falling of pebbles could be your warning that a slide is imminent. Keep this Holiday safe for you and your loved ones.

Photo by Wally and Nola Barnick, of Coast Outfitters, next to Fernwood.
Photo by Wally and Nola Barnick, of Coast Outfitters, next to Fernwood.

Another mudslide

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It is cleared. Photo. Y Debbie Reed

9:30 am – another slide, this one near River Inn. Only blocking 1/2 a lane, so not closing road. Should be able to get clear in no time, but considering that we have more rain on the way for the next two days, could be a precursor of things to come. Please be safe out there!

Partington Slide photos

The following four photos were sent to me by Partington Ridge resident Jim Merz. Excellent photos, and clearly show the instability, and the massive nature of the slide.

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The following two photos are provided by Mike Gilson, and show Highway One level damage.

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And here is one from Magnus Toren that shows what none of the others show – the top of the slide, which demonstrates, as Rock Knocker says, “It ain’t done, yet!”

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And from North Coast CT crew, Brandie Kirby, another couple:

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And finally, one last photo from Greg DeAlba, Supervisor, Willow Springs Maintenance Station:

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Highway One Closure Updates, Christmas Eve, 2012

CALTRANS PRESS RELEASE
Today’s Date: Monday, December 24, 2012 at 5 pm
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

*Update #2*
HIGHWAY 1 SOUTH OF BIG SUR IS CLOSED AT PARTINGTON RIDGE ROAD DUE TO A ROCK SLIDE; ROADWAY OPEN AT RAGGED POINT

MONTEREY COUNTY – Highway 1 will remain CLOSED overnight and Christmas Day a few miles south of Big Sur due to a major rock slide that occurred on Sunday afternoon, Dec. 23.

Caltrans is mobilizing an emergency contractor to clear the large debris field and to repair a 60-foot section of the damaged roadway at Partington Ridge Road.

The highway is shut down just south of Deetjens Big Sur Inn (Mile Marker 42) and at Lucia (Mile Marker 23). There is no official estimated time of opening but we are working to have one lane available to traffic later this week.

The rock slide south of Gorda at Mile Marker 7 was cleared at noon today so there is NO closure at Ragged Point in SLO County.

4:50 PM 14 [41] PER STEVE/CALTRANS MM 38 STILL CLOSED DUE TO LARGE ROCKS/BOULDERS ON RDWY [Shared]

11:00 am -Rock Knocker just saw a whole convoy of CalTrans vehicles heading north to Partington.

10:30 AM 52 [136] A27-014 150 DMG”D RDWY BOTH LNS , HOLES THROUGH OUT , BOULDERS LRGR THAN SUVS [Shared]

9:54 am – From my son, who needed to go north, this report:
“road is closed for the day, holes in road, rocks as big as cars, partington ridge road fell onto Hwy 1, going over NF, love you bye”

9:53 AM 42 [122] [Notification] [CHP]-CT SPOKE WITH DIST MNGR WILL TRY TO OPEN F/RAGGED PT TO WILLOW SPRINGS TO GET TRAFFIC FLOWING AROUND 1200 HRS WILL TRY TO DO THEIR BEST BUT MM 38.5 WILL POSS NOT BE OPEN TODAY [Shared]

9:44 AM 41 [119] [Notification] [CHP]-PER CALTRANS MM 38.5 AT THE BIG SUR AREA WILL BE CLOSED MOST OF THE DAY 1023”G FOR THE GEOLOGIST TO CHECK IF AREA IS STABLE [Shared]

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9:00 am – here is the slide just south of Alder Creek. Photo by John Handy, of Treebones Resort. I will get it uploaded as soon as possible. The other slide is at Partington Rd. it has large, truck-sized boulders, so will take a while to clear. Hopefully, I will have a photo of that to upload later.

6:30 am – the Cal Trans crews should be rolling out just about now, probably in both directions to assess the damage, and hopefully clearing what they can. I wouldn’t expect a report from them for at least an hour, maybe two.

After midnight sometime, a reader reported VW sized boulders near the bottom of Partington Ridge Rd. , which is 15 miles north of Lucia. Whether this is the same, or a different one than reported as being just North of Lucia at MP 23, is anyone’s guess. CHP website reported this:

4:43 AM 38 [104] [Appended, 05:20:44] [1] LGE VEH SIZE BOULDERS IN RDWY [Shared]

I will update this post throughout the day as information becomes available.

Road Closed

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It is hard to tell from this photo, but there are 40+ stranded tourists sleeping in their cars at Lucia, and three RVs. They’re stuck between the two slides. CalTrans will be out at first light to clear the road both north and south, if possible. I have no idea how bad it is, as I have received no first hand reports. My son spoke with a German tourist parked at Lucia for the night and the tourist said there boulders covering the road 12 kilometers north. I have been in email contact with both the PIO, Colin Jones, and Greg DeAlba, the Supervisor of the Willow Springs maintenance yard, and CT will be out at first light.

Just got a call at 5:41 pm, from Colin Jones of Cal-Trans. Highway One is closed from Ragged Point to just South of Big Sur at mm 42. (Grimes)There is a slide near south of Gorda, Colin said near Alder Creek, but i suspect Mud Creek, as that has been acting out lately, and a number of other places are questionable. The highway is closed for the night. It will be re-evaluated in the morning, and Colin will call with additional information in the morning. I apologize for the original typos that my subscribers see, but I am on iPad most of the time, and typos are the way of typing by touch.

Slide at Grimes Point near Coast Gallery

2:00 pm – this slide has been removed from the CHP website.

This from CHP:

Detail Information
1:13 PM 2 [10] [Notification] [CHP]-CT ADV 2ND CITZ REPORT OF SLIDE AT GRIMES PT – CT PERSONNEL (5151) FOR THE DOT RADIO, TWO CT PESONNEL ENRT ETA 20 MINS
12:25 PM 1 [1] VERY LARGE BOULDERS BLOCKING NB LANE

This is just the beginning, and all motorists should avoid Highway One at night, if at all possible. With all the rain expected by Christmas, we could easily have a longer closure in our future!