Category: Road Conditions

Friday the 13th, Zebras, and other stories

I didn’t want to write this morning, for fear I would jinx myself. Now that I am safely escounsed in my own home, I figure I’ll give it my best shot. It was actually a good day, no hi-jinxs came my way today.

First, Zebras were close to the road today, so I took advantage of it. This is for my friend Rose, who has a thing for Zebras. It think it is their cute little butts. But who knows? Maybe its the black and white of it all!

Zebras for Rose

(YAY! It inserted!) For those out of the area, when Hearst built his castle, he imported some exotic animals, among them, the zebra. Now the herd of a dozen or more are healthy and happy with lots of “home-like” land to roam.

Second, here are a couple of shots of the rock drapery on last year’s Alder Creek slide. You should see those rock climbers lay this stuff down. Such talented people Cal-Trans has working for it.

Bottom of Rock Drapery, Alder Creek 1/13/12

Top of Rock Drapery, Alder Creek 1/13/12

Wow! Two more photos uploaded AND inserted! This is my lucky day!

And lastly, I warned about accepting advertisements. Well, I added two links on specific prior posts a couple days ago, and today, I am adding a new link to the right under a new category for “Sponsors.” These are for people who pay me for providing a link to their site. You can ignore them, but it would probably help me if you could click on one, once in a while. Right now there is only one, but since it leads to a fire fighting course, I thought it was very worthwhile. The money I was paid for these three links is enough to cover the donation I made earlier this week to the BSVFB, so it all comes around in the end.

HAPPY FRIDAY THE 13TH EVERYONE! And it looks like Kate is no longer “unplugged.” (Thanks, Neil for pointing that out.)

Highway One Update

From Cal-Trans, the following update:

HIGHWAY 1 CARMEL TO CAMBRIA PROJECT UPDATE

MONTEREY COUNTY:
• Roadwork installing rocknet drapery for rockfall continues with occasional closures and flagging nine miles north
of Ragged Point at Alder Creek (PM 7.5) where the slide took place last spring. Daytime work is scheduled to complete in February, weather permitting.

• The temporary signal about two miles south of Lucia at Pitkins Curve/Rain Rocks (PM 21.3-21.6) for the
bridge/rockshed project remains in operation 24/7. Although the bridge appears to be almost completed, roadwork still remains. The rockshed is about 50% complete. Separately, a long retaining wall is being installed about 50′ north of the bridge. This is a separate contract but is being constructed by the same contractor. Golden State Bridge. This project began in November and should be completed next April, weather permitting. All construction is expected to be completed in spring of 2013.

SAN LUIS OBISPO COUNTY: There are no projects currently under construction along Hwy. 1 in San Luis Obispo County near the Monterey County Line.

Caltrans reminds motorists to move over and slow down when driving through Caltrans construction zones.
For more information on you can call the toll-free project hotline at (888) 836-0866 or visit http://www.dot.ca.gov/dist05/projects/pitkins/index.htm.

They included photos, but wouldn’t you know it? WordPress doesn’t want to insert them, naturally.

DON’T FORGET TO VOTE FOR YOUR FAVORITE PHOTO FOR MY BLOG HEADER. To get to the blog (if you are at this particular post from a link) click on the top – bigsurkate – to get to the whole blog. Scroll down until you see the 10 photos, choose your favorite, then scroll up one post to the voting poll.

Rain Totals & Dirt Road Report

First, so none of you panic, I have had no reports of any problems on Highway One, thus the “dirt” in my title. A couple of yahoos showed up at my place a bit ago, on foot. They had gotten themselves stuck in a “ditch” in the middle of the road. I sent an email to Sherry Tune about this. I have been literally begging the USFS to grade this road for YEARS! Last time it was graded was the Plaskett II fire of 2000. These yahoos are really lucky that Rock Knocker just happened to stop by my place today, or they would be outta luck. My neighbor’s car is in the shop, and Rock Knocker is giving him a ride on Monday to go pick it up, and I won’t go out when conditions on Plaskett are this bad, so I would have lent them my phone to call 805-927-HELP, Cambria AAA, who is the only one who will come up here, and it is damn expensive!

On to rain totals, my gauge read .9 this morning, which is all that I recorded for yesterday’s downpour. I have doubts about the accuracy of that reading, however. Debbie, in Big Sur Valley, reports just under 1.5 inches for that neck of our neighborhood.

Warmer, drier weather supposedly on the way for this next week.

Cal-Trans Project Update

HIGHWAY 1 CARMEL TO CAMBRIA PROJECT UPDATE

MONTEREY COUNTY:
•Traffic continues down to one lane just south of Lucia at Dani Creek (PM 22.6-22.8) with a temporary signal in place for retaining wall installation. Work hours are from 7 am to 5 pm daily with work expected to be completed this September. Cyclists traveling southbound are required to press the signal button to activate a longer period to safely get through the narrow one-way uphill section. Work is expected to be completed by mid-October.

•The temporary signal about two miles south of Lucia at Pitkins Curve/Rain Rocks (PM 21.3-21.6) for the bridge/rockshed project remains in operation 24/7 with the project expected to be completed in spring of 2013.

SAN LUIS OBISPO COUNTY: There are no projects currently under construction along Hwy. 1 in San Luis Obispo County near the Monterey County Line.

Here are a couple Cal-Trans photos of both projects. I have some I promised to post, but they will be out-of-date by the time I get them up!

Pitkins Curve is on the left – you can see the bridge coming together. Dani Creek (just south of Lucia) is on the right.

Upcoming Public Meetings

Sorry I haven’t been in cyberspace for a bit. End of summer approaches, and it is as if there is a frenetic energy for out of town visitors to beat the Labor Day crowds. My aunt and uncle come every year for a month to Pismo Beach, and it is my one time to visit, so I often go spend a few days down there. Out-of-state visitors are also coming for a visit in the next few days, and Rock Knocker has needed my help on some overnight projects lately, too. Of course, I squeeze some work in between all of this. Summer photos shortly.

Several Cal-Trans meetings are being held in the next two weeks that are of interest to all of us.

The first is regarding the design of the viaduct at Rocky Creek:
“HI Everyone,

We have scheduled our first Aesthetic Design Advisory Committee (ADAC) meeting to discuss the aesthetics of the proposed Rocky Creek Viaduct (bridge) railing, that will be constructed along the ocean side of the structure and will be designed to not only protect errant vehicles from the edge but also bicyclists and pedestrians.

The meeting will be held at the Big Sur Station Multi-Agency Facility on August 10, 2011 starting at 10:00 AM and lasting until approximately 1:00 PM or until we mutually agree we’ve covered the topics.

A packet of information will be emailed out to everyone prior to the meeting.

Thank you everyone for your participation!

Ken Dostalek
Caltrans, District 5
Project Management

805-549-3133
*************************************************************
The second addresses the truck climbing lane between Rio Rd. and Carmel Valley Road:

Did someone mention ribbon cutting?

Photo sent by Charlie Hench, resident engineer, Cal-Trans

Ribbon Cutting Ceremony by Cal-Trans

I don’t know for sure when this was taken, as the mega-data says 1/1/1980, but I suspect yesterday.

Alder Creek officially open to all as of 6/9 at 3 pm

I got a call early this afternoon re the eminent official opening of Alder Creek at 3 pm this afternoon, just 5 days short of a whopping two months of closure. There are no restrictions at this time. The PIO released the information just moments ago, and so now I can share with my readers

I feel like there should be a ribbon cutting ceremony, or something. Break open the champagne. And this one was only 1/2 as long as the one at Hurricane Point a few years ago.

The Working Crew – Alder Clean-up, up close & personal

Rock Knocker got some great shots of the various crews finishing up the clean -up in preparation for opening the road. I am writing an article for the Cambrian on this process for next week, and will post here when submitted.

In the meantime, I selected 25 out of the 350 he brought me, but not sure I will have the patience or time to get all of those up, and will probably have to load some, and come back and load more, so keep coming. I’ll be posting more photos all evening! They all had a BBQ today to celebrate the ending of the almost two months of hard work to get this puppy open. Even the Deputy Director Steve Price showed up!

I am sure I speak for the entire community – north and south – when I thank all you men and women of Cal-Trans, Winsor of Cambria, and AIS of Santa Maria who brought and operated the Spyders, and everyone else who helped to keep this safe while the others worked. Blessings to all.

Playin' in the Dirt by Rock Knocker

Haulin' Dirt by Rock Knocker

Fill 'er up by Rock Knocker

John Duffy, CT Geologist & Scaling Instructor by Rock Knocker

Charlie Hench, CT resident engineer taking well-deserved break by Rock Knocker

Chicken Wire Crew (slope drapery) by Rock Knocker

Seeing Road bed, by Rock Knocker

Tim Winsor, of Winsor Construction in Cambria by Rock Knocker

Discussing the work by Rock Knocker

Charlie Hench and Steve Price by Rock Knocker

Steve Price and John Duffy

It’s Official. Alder Creek to open by Friday, 6/10/11

Just got the “official” word, although I had the scoop about the opening up yesterday here on my blog (see below), and I had it from very reliable sources, it is nice when it is official. I was confident this was not just another “rumor.” After 22 years down here, I know how to sort out the “rumors” – which may or may not be true, from the reliable information, which is not yet released through official sources. By the way the operative word is “BY” not “ON.”

Can’t tell you how happy I am. Rock Knocker and I, once we got the “unofficial” word, immediately planned a trip to Cambria for this Friday. Friday is our favorite day, anyway, as the Farmer’s Market is happening, and the weekend mood as settled into the town.

“Highway 1 at Alder Creek (Post Mile 7.5), 40 miles south of Big Sur, will
re-open by Friday, June 10, Caltrans officials announced today.

A devastating slide had closed the roadway completely in both directions to
all public, including motorized vehicles, pedestrians and cyclists since
April 14.

Caltrans wants to thank the affected communities for their patience and
especially wants to thank Windsor Construction for their efforts.”

Alder 6/3 by Cal-Trans

Road Rumors on the South Coast

Lots of rumors flying around about road conditions down here and on line.

First, let me address the Nacimiento-Fergusson Rd. rumor. One person wrote that he heard the road was closed on base. Every Spring, there is a large practice bivouac training exercise. We are never told exactly when it will be held, for security purposes. For years, a sign has announced this possibility of delay at both ends of the road. It has been there so long, most of us don’t even notice it anymore. When this spring training happens, we are subject to delays, but rarely complete and utter closures of any significant length. Be patient. You will get through in all likelihood.

Second is Alder Creek. One source working the slide reports there is too much material to be moved in time for the anticipated opening of mid-June and says it will likely be around the first of July. Another source working the slide says the opening is on time. Obviously, both are not accurate, and neither is the official word. At this point, take a look at the photos, toss the bones, throw the chicken entrails, and we’ll probably get as accurate an assessment as we are likely to get. There is still a lot of material to be disposed of, and it is being trucked away. Due to a complaint re the use of jake brakes, according to one source, the trucks must take only partial loads, but the work day has been increased from 10 hours a day to twelve. Like I said – get out your Tarot cards and see what they say. I doubt even Cal-Trans can predict.

And then there is the upcoming storm – hard to predict what impact this will have on the slide, other than, “Not good.”