Category: Road Conditions

The Road that Defies Gravity: Closures, delays, and other adventures on Highway One

By now, we are all familiar with the delays and closures that have been going on at Pitkin’s Curve and Rain Rocks south of Lucia for the last year – we still have about six months left to go here. The same thing is about to happen at Rocky Creek for the next year. A meeting is scheduled for 10 am this morning at the Big Sur Lodge to address issues and concerns about this construction, delays, and night closures. Steve Price will be leading the discussion. Maybe finishing this project in a year is too ambitious if it requires so many 10-hour night closures.

Also, for those who regularly travel to Cambria and other southern ports, be aware that Monday, 9/17, starting at 7:00 am, there will be delays of up to 1/2 hour between the county line just north of Ragged Point, to Hearst Castle, while Cal-Trans chip seals the road.

Finally, at the Alder Creek slide, starting on Monday, 9/24, there will be delays for about a month while Cal-Trans installs more rock slide netting at this location.

What can we expect when this road continues to march to the sea? Make sure and use the facilities at every opportunity, bring reading material, plan your trips accordingly, and make sure to bring an extra stash of patience and humor! A town run north or south now, rivals what used to be a trip to The City (SF) in the past, at least for length of time on the road!

Profile, Willow Springs Supervisor

Recently, a new face came to the South Coast, at the Willow Springs Maintenance Yard. His name is Greg DeAlba. He is the new supervisor. He came to us from Santa Barbara where he was a lead worker, which sometimes entails acting as supervisor. He has six years experience with Cal Trans, although his father has over 30 years.

20120907-120952.jpg

He oversees a crew of six. Currently, he has only four on his crew, including himself. One of his crew, another Greg, also comes to us from Santa Barbara, and has only been here a short time. The other, Joel, comes from the Cambria station, and has been here a few months longer. When I asked him what he thought the major difference between the Santa Barbara station and this one is, he replied: “The quiet. You can go out on the road first thing in the morning and not see another car.” He recently hiked a couple miles up the back country behind the Willow Springs Yard, and is completely taken with the beauty of his new home.

He acknowledges that keeping the road clear this first winter will be his biggest challenge, but he is enthusiastic, and says he, Greg, and Joel all love to work, and are looking forward to and are up for the challenge.

Greg is married with three children, the oldest of which just started second grade at Pacific Valley School.

Rocky Creek Viaduct Emergency Services meeting.

This from the Cal-Trans Engineer. I sent him contact info for Maia Carroll, Monterey County Communications, Martha Karstens, and Frank Pinney. Also, as Martha points out, CHP and MCSO should be in the loop. I will post all information about this project, including the final date and time of next week’s meeting, as soon as my Internet allows.

Hello Big Sur Locals,

I’d like to give you the opportunity to meet with the Caltrans Resident
Engineer to go over any questions or concerns you might have before
construction gets underway. We just had the “pre-construction” meeting
with the Contractor yesterday so now is a good time for this meeting. I
was thinking Tuesday, Wednesday, or Thursday of next week (August 28, 29,
or 30) at the Monterey Resident Engineers Office at 1529 Highway 68,
Monterey, CA 93940. Please let me know if you’d like to attend and which
day is best for you.

I was wondering if anyone knows who, emergency services wise, should be
invited to this meeting in case I’ve missed anybody. Emergency services
impacts during construction will be one of the topics discussed. Thanks.

I, Kate, will be doing my best to attend, and will report on the meeting. I also need to schedule a meeting with the new Supervisor for the Willow Springs Maintenance Yard, the Big Sur Maintenance Yard, as well as the Foreman for the Rain Rocks/Pitkins Curve project. I will be really busy next week, if I can set all this up. I do have personal and work matters next week, also, so it may be the following week before I can follow through on it all.

Highway One closure in Santa Cruz

Heads up, everyone. Highway One, Southbound, will be completely closed between midnight and 5 am, Soquel to Morrissey TONIGHT, TUESDAY. Next week, the 13th and 14th, the Northbound lane will be closed during the same time frame.

Moto GP coming to Highway One near you

Today starts the grand prix at Laguna Seca, and the madness of motorcycles heading north on Highway One. Actually, it started yesterday, we noted. We went south Thursday, and noted the increase in motorcycles on the highway. Some of these riders seem to either have a death wish or a belief in their own immortality.

Be extra careful out there, as there will be crashes and craziness all weekend. Some of the fastest and best riders on a professional course will be at Laguna Seca, but some candidates for the Darwin Award will be on our highways.

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.

20120717-122935.jpg
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.

20120717-123308.jpg
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.

20120717-123730.jpg

20120717-123821.jpg
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.

20120717-124118.jpg

20120717-124321.jpg

20120717-124430.jpg

20120717-124513.jpg

20120717-124635.jpg
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.

Overnight road closures

(See attached file: Cambria to Carmel
Update–4OvernightClosures4RoofPanels7.3.12.doc)

Today’s Date: Tuesday, July 3, 2012
District: 5 – Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo, Monterey, Santa Cruz and
San
Benito Counties
Contact: Susana Z Cruz (Bilingual) or Colin Jones
Phone: (805) 549-3138 or (805) 549-3189
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

HIGHWAY 1 CARMEL TO CAMBRIA ROADWAY UPDATE

OVERNIGHT CLOSURES AT BRIDGE AND ROCK SHED-FOUR NIGHTS STARTING MONDAY

MONTEREY COUNTY: Bridge and rock shed work continues on Highway 1 at
Pitkins/Rain Rocks (PM 21.3), 1.8 miles south of Lucia and 25 miles south
of Big Sur as part of the bridge and rock shed project, Caltrans officials
have announced.

Four overnight full Hwy. 1 closures of the bridge and rock shed are
necessary for the roof panels to be placed overhead on the rock shed
starting Monday, July 9 through Thursday, July 12 from 9 pm to 6 am
(finishing on Friday morning, July 13).

Electronic message signs will be posted at each end of the closure and at
three other locations alerting motorists of the closure ahead. Emergency
vehicles will be allowed through, although it may involve up to 30-minute
delays.

All roadwork on the $30 million project is expected to be completed by
Spring of 2013.

A permanent viaduct repair project is being implemented for Rocky Creek. It
is an $11 million project to begin after Labor Day. More details to follow.

Caltrans reminds motorists to move over and slow down when driving through
highway construction zones.

For more information on Monterey County projects, call the toll-free
hotline at (888) 836-0866 or visit
http://www.dot.ca.gov/dist05/projects/. The public may also call the statewide
CHIN at (800) 427-7623 for
updates on current traffic conditions.

Susana Z. Cruz
Public Information Officer /
Portavoz de Relaciones Públicas
(805) 549-3138
(805) 549-3326–Fax

Highway One roadwork

(See attached file: Hwy.1 Striping 6.12.12.doc)

Today’s Date: Tuesday, June 12, 2012
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 STRIPING/MARKING FROM SAN LUIS OBISPO/MONTEREY COUNTY LINE TO
SOUTH OF BIG SUR IS UNDERWAY

MONTEREY COUNTY – A project to restripe a 42-mile section of the centerline
and edge lines as well as place new pavement markers from the SLO/Mon.
County line to just south of Big Sur near Coast Gallery is underway,
Caltrans officials have announced.

Work hours are from 8 am to 4 pm Monday through Thursday and until 12 pm on
Friday. One-way traffic control by flagging and pilot car will be
implemented at all times during this roadwork. Up to 15-minute delays are
anticipated. Electronic message signs will be used to alert motorists of
the work/delay ahead. Work is expected to be completed by June 22.

The project will improve safety by increasing roadway delineation and
visibility. The contractor for this $332,000 project is Central Striping
Service of Rancho Cordova.

Caltrans reminds motorists to move over and slow down when driving
through
Caltrans work zones.

For traffic updates on other state highways in Monterey County, motorists
can call Caltrans District 5 Public Affairs at (805) 549-3318 or visit the
District 5 website at: http://www.dot.ca.gov/dist05/road_information.htm

Susana Z. Cruz
Public Information Officer /
Portavoz de Relaciones Públicas
(805) 549-3138
(805) 549-3326–Fax

Friday hearing for Cal Trans crew

I was in court yesterday for part of the hearing. Bail remains set at $1,000,000 each. Preliminary hearing remains set for Friday, May 18th at 10:00 in Judge Pamela Butler’s court room, although a challenge under Penal Code 170.6 seems likely to be filed by one of the five attorneys in the matter.

One evening anchor man from a local Monterey station was present, and asked to speak to Tom Worthington, Juliet Peck, or myself, but we were all too upset with the court’s refusal to consider anything the defense had to say about a bail reduction, to respond to the press.

Given the nature of these judicial proceedings, from the overbearing nature of the initial assault on the south coast, to allegations made by the DA in open court, to the court’s refusal to consider anything on behalf of the defendants, as a member of this community I feel stifled in what I can and cannot share on this or any other public forum. I just urge every one to keep an open mind until this case is concluded.

No Willow Springs Maintenance Crew means this section of the highway is no longer safe. Driving home from the North Coast today, Saturday, there was a minor slide south of Limekiln. There were quite a few rocks in the north bound lane, and a few in the south bound lane. There is no one for me to call or stop and see to let them know. This could a harbinger of things to come, not necessarily, but it could be a warning from Mother Nature.

Remember, there are many layers to most cases, this one in particular. Also, as an aside, Cal Trans is suing the estate of the dead bus driver and the tour company who employed him, for damage to a bridge out near Soledad, when the driver crashed into it, killing four French tourists, per a report in yesterday’s Pine Cone. Cal-Trans is suing for one million dollars. I have never heard of such a thing. Nice, huh?

Rocky Creek Viaduct

Cal -Trans made a very informative presentation of the proposed Rocky Creek Viaduct at Friday’s BSMAAC meeting. I’ ve suggested they put the presentation up on their website, and when they do, I will let you know.

The most relevant points for most of us in the Big Sur Community and the traveling public are:

Construction to start after Labor Day; 24 overnight closures anticipated between October 2012 and February 2013; the contractors are to give Cal-Trans 24 hour notice of the intended closures, and the PIO will notify the current list of media and relevant organizations, including this blog; The closures are limited on Monday-Thursday to 9 pm-7am, midnight to 7am on Friday, none on Saturday, and 9pm to midnight on Sunday (when presumably Monday kicks in until 7am). As is currently the case with all road closures, provisions are being made for emergency vehicles. Of course, this all is dependent on the cooperation of Mother Nature.

I will keep you all posted as the anticipated construction time gets closer.

Editor’s note: I am glad that Cal-Trans has shortened the closure from the 8pm deadline the South Coast experienced lately.

(This is a test of the publishing capabilities of bigsurkate from home via iPad. If you see this, it worked! (My, what interesting word combos the autocorrect came up with for bigsurkate!)