Category: Road Conditions

Highway Closure Update

First two are Paul’s Slide, last one is Mud Creek.

Per CHP Website (FYI 10-10 is off duty)

Incident:  00256   Type:    CLOSURE of a Road   Location:   Sr1 / Fullers Pt  Loc Desc:  FULLERS POINT, MM 42.15    Lat/Lon:  36.208375 -121.737859   
Detail Information
3:46 PM 2 [2] PER CT SUP, MAY SHUT RD DOWN HERE WHEN CREWS GO 1010
3:46 PM 1 [1] MODERATE RAIN AND FOG IN AREA

CALTRANS CONTINUES WITH TEMPORARY CLOSURE OF HWY. 1 AT MUD CREEK/PAUL’S SLIDE

MONTEREY COUNTY — Caltrans has received confirmation from National Weather Service (NOAA) data that the third and largest significant storm is forecast to reach the areas of Mud Creek (PM 8.9) and Paul’s Slide (PM 21.6) on State Route 1 in the Big Sur area around mid-day today, Wednesday, Jan. 16.   Highway 1 at Mud Creek and Paul’s Slides will remain closed until further notice.

Heavy storm activity is forecast through Thursday afternoon, Jan. 17.

Businesses along Big Sur Coast Hwy. 1 remain open, accessible via Hwys. 101, 68 and 46.

Caltrans’ Geotech, Maintenance and Construction units are on call and prepared to inspect/clean up when the storm ends during the daylight hours and it is safe to be onsite again—we anticipate this to be on Friday morning, Jan. 18 or sooner if conditions allow. Caltrans’ goal is to open the roadway as quickly and safely as possible and our staff remains on-call 24/7.

The gates on either side of Mud Creek and Paul’s Slide will be key locked. These gates will not be manned when the highway is closed and there will be no access to anyone, including Emergency Services or Caltrans employees until a proper assessment can be made and any necessary cleanup has been completed.

NOTE: This advisory applies only to the Mud Creek and Paul’s Slide areas with each closure being treated separately. Please stay tuned for additional information when the roadway opens again. SEE ATTACHED CLOSURE MAP.

Storm & Road Conditions, 1/16/19

11:15 am – Big Sur Pfeiffer Campground closed due to wether and flooding concerns until Friday, 1/18. Big Sur Lodge remains open. Riverside Campground is also closed.

10:30 am – put off starting today’s fire, as it was quiet, and not too cold when I woke, but now the wind is picking up…sucking the heat out…and it is time. The storm is on its way and looks to include not just wind and rain but potential lightning, as well. I hear power is back to Big Sur Valley, finally. For how long is anyone’s guess. Stay warm, stay dry, and most of all, stay safe.

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Storm Report & Road Conditions, 1/15/19

3:35 just heard from 2 individuals that the power is out in Big Sur Valley.

Note: The USGS Big Sur River Discharge Rate website has been added to the links to the right, under 2018-2019 Storm Reports & Road Conditions. It isn’t bad right now, although rising, but tomorrow could be interesting.

Per Cal Trans this afternoon, the road is open to Lucia and the Hermitage from the north. Have no idea about the southern end.

11:15 am – Flash Flood Watch issued by NWS for the Santa Lucia Mountains & Los Padres National Forest, Southern Monterey Bay and the Big Sur Coast.

9:30 am – The South Coast, aka Slide Country, is getting hammered. Note, Mining Ridge rainfall totals have doubled in the last 5 hours! Here are the 24 hour totals:

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Cal Trans moved the closure to Ragged Point on the South and Deetjen’s on the North at approximately 6 pm last night. No indication any of the previously open sections have been cleared yet.

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4:00 am – as of 3 am, Mining Ridge and Three Peaks have each received almost 2” and Chalk Peak is up to 1.72” It was raining enough to wake me up just now.

Last night after dark, Cal Trans moved the closure to Ragged Point, so apparently, there is a problem BEFORE Mud Creek. Perhaps at Gray Slip, as I have been reporting?

5:56 PM  

 

 

 [13] PER CT MOVED DOWN TO RAGGED POINT CLOSED OVER NIGHT AND WILL RE-ASSESS IN THE MORNING

 

 

Highway Closure beginning, until further notice

This is the closure in the map below. The only businesses accessible from Nacimiento-Fergusson Road are (N to S) Limekiln State Park, Kirk Creek Campground, Sand Dollar Beach, Plaskett Creek Campground, Treebones, and Gorda.

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**TRAFFIC ADVISORY**

CALTRANS ANNOUNCES TEMPORARY CLOSURE OF HWY. 1 AT MUD CREEK/PAUL’S SLIDE

MONTEREY COUNTY — Caltrans has received confirmation from National Weather Service (NOAA) data that a significant storm has reached the areas of Mud Creek (PM 8.9) and Paul’s Slide (PM 21.6) on State Route 1 in the Big Sur area and will close Highway 1 at Mud Creek and Paul’s Slide on Monday, Jan. 14 at Noon (12 PM) until further notice.

The closure initiation process will begin at 10 AM with Electronic Message Signs activated and both sets of gates (Mud Creek and Paul’s Slide) closed by Noon (12 pm).Storm activity is forecast through Thursday, Jan. 17.

Nacimiento-Fergusson Rd. (PM 18.9) is the alternate route to reach Hwy. 1 between Mud Creek and Paul’s Slide. However, there is a 40-ft. length, 12-foot height, 60-ton weight, and 10 mph restriction at one of the bridges along this route. Please feel free to check with Fort Hunter-Liggett for more updated information on their road at: https://www.facebook.com/FortHunterLiggett.

Caltrans’ Geotech, Maintenance and Construction units are on call and prepared to inspect/clean up when the storm ends during the daylight hours and it is safe to be onsite again—we anticipate this to be Friday morning, Jan. 18. Caltrans’ goal is to open the roadway as quickly and safely as possible and our staff remains on-call 24/7.

The gates on either side of Mud Creek and Paul’s Slide will be key locked. These gates will not be manned when the highway is closed and there will be no access to anyone, including Emergency Services or Caltrans employees until a proper assessment can be made and any necessary cleanup has been completed.

 

NOTE: This advisory applies only to the Mud Creek and Paul’s Slide areas with each closure being treated separately—both are closing today. Please stay tuned for additional information when the roadway opens again. SEE ATTACHED CLOSURE MAP.

 

Highway Tentatively Scheduled to Close Mid-Day Mon. Jan. 14, 2019

                         **48-HOUR TRAFFIC ADVISORY UPDATE**

OF TEMPORARY CLOSURE HIGHWAY 1 AT MUD CREEK/PAUL’S SLIDE

MONTEREY COUNTY — Caltrans has received confirmation from National Weather Service (NOAA) data that a significant storm is in the forecast to begin in approximately the next 24-hours for the areas of Mud Creek (PM 8.9) and Paul’s Slide (PM 21.6) on State Route 1 in the Big Sur area.

This advisory is to inform the public to be prepared for closure of the roadway tentatively scheduled for mid-day Monday, Jan. 14 due to a significant storm. Stand-by for additional information within the next 24 hours and a final notice will be sent when the roadway closes. Caltrans will have our Geotech, Maintenance and Construction units on call and prepared to inspect/clean up during daylight hours when the storm ends and it is safe to be onsite again.

The gates on either side of Mud Creek and Paul’s Slide will be key locked. These gates will not be manned when the highway is closed. No one, including Emergency Services or Caltrans employees will be allowed access until a proper assessment can be made and any necessary cleanup has been completed.

 

NOTE: These advisories apply only to the Mud Creek and Paul’s Slide areas with each closure being treated separately–both locations will close tentatively on mid-day Monday, Jan. 14. Please stand-by for additional information within the next 24 hours.

 

Storm and Road Conditions, 1/12/19

11:00 am – from the NOAA forecast: “However, the next system will take aim at late in the day on Sunday. At this time, it looks like the southern portion of the Central Coast will see the rain first during the late afternoon noon hours, with the rain spreading north and east through the evening and overnight hours. This system will be similar to the last one in the fact that the bulk of the rainfall will be centered on the Big Sur coast line and areas south, with this area potentially seeing another inch or two of rain.”

9:45 am – Regardless of which model you believe, we are going to get a helluva lot of rain this coming week. Look at these two models:

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As of 8:30 am – Highway One is still closed between Ragged Point and Deetjen’s. But just received notice the closure will be opened at 11 am.

Per NWS: “Precipitation forecast from the GFS through next Thursday. After a brief dry break from Saturday afternoon through Sunday morning, next week looks very wet with rain expected in every six-hour time step from Sunday afternoon through Thursday.”

Note: my two regular features (Photo Sunday & Tourist Tuesday) MAY be suspended until the storm door closes.

48 hour notice on Mud Creek & Paul’s Slide

48-HOUR TRAFFIC ADVISORY**

POTENTIAL TEMPORARY CLOSURE OF HIGHWAY 1 AT MUD CREEK/PAUL’S SLIDE

MONTEREY COUNTY — Caltrans has received notification from National Weather Service (NOAA) data that there is a significant storm arriving in approximately 48-hours for the areas of Mud Creek (PM 8.9) and Paul’s Slide (PM 21.6) on State Route 1 in the Big Sur area.

This advisory is for travelers to be ready in the event the roadway needs to be closed due to a predicted significant storm and allow time for them to prepare for the closure including stocking up on necessary supplies and making plans.

NOTE: At the 24-hour mark, an updated traffic advisory will be sent, either confirming the full closure or providing additional information. These advisories apply only to the Mud Creek and Paul’s Slide areas with each closure being treated separately.

 

Storm Report & Highway Conditions, 1/7/19

This is part of what NOAA says we can expect:

Long story short, we`ll continue to be under a wet pattern for at
least the next 7-10 days. As the rain accumulates and soils
saturate this week and into the weekend, will have to monitor for
an increasing risk of mudslides and debris flows. Also will need
to monitor for rising small streams and creeks.

8:45 am – Cal Trans is cleaning up between Ragged Point and Salmon Creek and will be cleaning up to Fuller’s and hopes to have the highway open by 10 am. Here are a couple photos from yesterday morning:

5:30 am – It was reported to me by an employee of Pacific Valley School that there was a “hard closure” near Salmon Creek around 11 pm, that several people tried to get through from Gorda and were not able to. I notified Cal Trans this am.

We got an astoundingi almost 5” of rain here in the last 24 hours.

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Mud/Rock/Slide

Per the CHP. Note, the MM 32.60 is not 5 miles north or Esalen, but at Hot Springs Bridge between the north and South Gate.

00379 6:24 PM Mud/Dirt/Rock Sr1 / Esalen SR1 5 MI JNO ESALEN , MM 32.60 Monterey

No highway closure today

Both Mud Creek (PM 8.9) and Paul’s Slide (PM 21.6) sites looked good this morning and the forecast for today/tonight has gone down so there will be no preemptive closure today. Crews will assess again tomorrow.

Winter is here, there is a line of storms in the forecast, there is a possibility we may need to preemptively close Hwy. 1 with less than 48 hours’ notice. Crews will continue to assess the sites, monitor the forecast, and provide an update as conditions warrant.