All photos by Cal Trans taken 3/12/21

Date:	Friday, March 12, 2021
District:	05 – Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo, Monterey, San Benito and Santa Cruz Counties
Contact:	Kevin Drabinski or Jim Shivers
Phone:	(805) 549-3138 or (805) 549-3237

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

RAINWATER DIVERSION IN PLACE; FILL TO BE INTRODUCED

NEXT WEEK AT RAT CREEK

MONTEREY COUNTY – Deliberate progress continues to be made at the repair site at Rat Creek.

Crews have developed a drainage plan for the site to divert rainwater coming down the canyon to minimize impacts on the work below. Temporary pipe has been connected to the existing buried culvert which, though damaged by the event, will be able to pass rainwater.

This is especially important as the months of March and April typically bring measurable rainfall to the Big Sur coast. This temporary drainage system will be in place for the duration of the fill reconstruction.

This week’s storm cycle had little impact on operations at Rat Creek. A rare snow even fell this week at the site but precipitation in this form has the advantage of allowing moisture to infiltrate the soil over time rather than all at once.

The last of the debris flow material has been removed from the canyon. An estimated 70,000 cubic yards of trees, rocks, and sediment have been taken off site. It is expected that 25,000 cubic yards of fill will be needed to be brought in to build up the support for the new roadway.

Crews have constructed steep paths on the north and south side of the canyon which will be used as haul roads to bring in fill material to the bottom of the canyon. Much like in building a home, an earthen foundation needs to be created at the bottom of the canyon to accept the fill and crews are improving the conditions in that area. Fill will be introduced into the bottom of the canyon starting early next week. 

Crews continue to work 7 days per week during daylight hours.  

The State Director for Caltrans, Toks Omishakin, visited Rat Creek on Friday, March 5, and was briefed by Caltrans District 5 Director Tim Gubbins and the maintenance and repair teams about the emergency response and the repair of Highway 1. Director Omishakin reiterated the priority the state has for the reopening of the highway so that travelers and small businesses can enjoy restored travel by early summer.

Caltrans reminds motorists to move over and slow down when 

driving through highway work zones

For traffic updates on other state highways in Monterey County, travelers may contact Caltrans District 5 Public Affairs at 805-549-3318 or can visit the District 5 website at: https://dot.ca.gov/caltrans-near-me/district-5

Photos Below

Snow accumulation at Rat Creek March 10, 2021.

View from the south as Haul Roads are being constructed to the bottom of the canyon.

Caltrans Director Toks Omishakin, right, reviewing Rat Creek from the south with District 5 Director Tim Gubbins on March 5, 2021.

Caltrans Director Toks Omishakin, left, speaks with District 5 Construction Chief Tim Campbell as they ascend the north side of the canyon at Rat Creek, March 5, 2021.

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Kevin Drabinski

Public Information Officer

elevation 3200’

From John Lindsay:   “1,007 millibar low-pressure system off the Northern California coastline will move southward. This system will produce moderate to fresh (13 to 24 mph) southerly winds, increasing clouds and periods of rain starting Tuesday afternoon, which will continue  through Thursday morning as this storm moves over San Luis Obispo  and Santa Barbara counties.  A few rain showers will linger into Thursday afternoon.   This system will also bring a chance of isolated thunderstorms capable of heavy rainfall, gusty winds, hail, and lightning. At this time, between 0.75 and 1.75 inches of precipitation is expected from this system. This tempest will bring the coolest temperatures on Tuesday and Wednesday, with highs only reaching the mid-50s as a cold and unstable air mass moves into Central California. Snow elevations are expected to drop to 2,500 and 3,000 feet and may fall even farther at times, especially overnight Tuesday and Wednesday.”

Per Santa Cruz County: “Rainfall from this system is expected to approach but not exceed thresholds for debris flow evacuations in the #CZULightningComplex burn scar. Prepare a go bag in case conditions change. Protect yourself, protect your family. Text SCR911 to 99411 to sign up for emergency alerts.“

From NOAA: “The Santa Lucia and S Gabilan Range could see 5-10″ [of snow];

I held back a couple of my favorite photos of Rat Creek this week. Both by Cal Trans.

This is the beginning of the article I wrote for Voices this week:

“Dave Nelson has had a front-row seat to all the action at Rat Creek — from the destruction of Highway 1 to its rebuilding.

He first contacted me on a Wednesday morning, Jan. 27, about what he was witnessing there. He had been in contact with Caltrans, and after our emailed conversations, I also contacted Caltrans by phone later that afternoon. One day later, he watched the highway slowly being eaten by the great equalizer — constant water flow.

For the rest of the article, visit: https://voicesofmontereybay.org/2021/03/05/reconstruction-at-rat-creek/

All photos by Cal Trans

For Immediate ReleaseMarch 4, 2021https://panetta.house.gov

Contact:  Sarah Cronin(202) 225-4344Sarah.Cronin@mail.house.gov

Congressman Panetta Calls for Emergency Federal Funding Following January Storm Damage toNacimiento-Fergusson Road

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Jimmy Panetta (D-Carmel Valley) has sent a letter to Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) leadership requesting accelerated funding through the Emergency Relief for Federally Owned Roads (ERFO) program to support critical repairs of Nacimiento-Fergusson Road in the Monterey District of the Los Padres National Forest (LPNF).  The funding will be used to repair damages sustained during the January 2021 winter storms.

“After one of the worst wildfire seasons in local history, communities on the Central Coast are now dealing with the after-effects of the fires in the form of destructive slides due to the recent storms,” said Congressman Panetta.  “Since part of Highway 1 is in the Pacific Ocean and inaccessible, many residents and first responders are relying on the Nacimiento-Fergusson Road as way to get to the South Coast of Big Sur.  Unfortunately, this crucial access road is severely damaged and requires major repairs to remain in use.  I am calling on the Department of Transportation’s Federal Highway Administration to activate the Emergency Relief for Federally Owned Roads program for Nacimiento-Fergusson road to keep our communities connected to vital resources.”

Nacimiento-Fergusson Road is a critical access point for Central Coast residents.  It is the only east-west highway that connects Highway 1 and the Salinas Valley with Highway 101 and Big Sur.  The road sustained critical damage during the Dolan Fire, which was worsened by the January 2021 storm that destroyed a portion of Highway 1 at Rat Creek.  

Read the full text of the letter below:

Dear Administrator Pollack,

I write to request your full and fair consideration of accelerated Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) funding through the Emergency Relief for Federally Owned Roads (ERFO) program to support critical repairs of Nacimiento-Fergusson Road in the Monterey District of the Los Padres National Forest (LPNF).

Earlier this year, an atmospheric river stalled over burn scars on the central coast of California, resulting in significant damage to Nacimiento-Fergusson Road and adjacent roadways, including a massive slip out of Highway 1 at Rat Creek. 

As FHWA assesses the request and need for ERFO funding, I want to elevate the importance of continued repair and resiliency of Nacimiento-Fergusson Road.  With the large-scale damage at Rat Creek, effectively closing Highway 1 for the foreseeable future, Nacimiento-Fergusson Road has become a critical access throughway for residents, first responders, and small businesses on the South Coast of Big Sur.  The road requires both major repairs to existing slips and immediate culvert clearance and rehabilitation to ensure that it remains intact in the anticipated event of additional rainfall. Engineers report that between 50 and 60 percent of Nacimiento-Fergusson Road is in danger of major damage if no preventive action is taken. 

I appreciate your timely consideration of this request that impacts not only Nacimiento-Fergusson Road as a federal transportation asset, but also surrounding residents and emergency response personnel who depend on the road to connect to the broader community.

Please do not hesitate to reach out to my office should you have any questions about Nacimiento-Fergusson Road and my support of ERFO funding to ensure its continued function.

Sincerely, Jimmy Panetta

Member of Congress

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These were taken yesterday, March 3 by Cal Trans.