Public Meeting – Limekiln Bridge Replacement

Today’s Date: Friday, February 8, 2019

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 (805) 549-3189

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

 CALTRANS ANNOUNCES PUBLIC INFORMATION MEETING/OPEN HOUSE FOR LIMEKILN CREEK BRIDGE REPLACEMENT PROJECT ON STATE ROUTE 1

 MONTEREY COUNTY – Caltrans District 5 will hold a Public Information Meeting/Open House regarding a proposal to replace the Limekiln Creek Bridge on Highway 1 in southern Monterey County.

 The public is invited to this meeting which will be held in an open house format at the Big Sur Lodge on Tuesday, February 26 from 4 pm until 7 pm.  The public will be able to learn more about this project, view informational displays and ask questions of the project team, including staff from engineering, traffic operations and environmental.

 Caltrans is proposing to build a new bridge west of the existing structure which would be tied into the existing alignment.  The bridge would have a profile similar to the existing bridge.

 The public may also submit comments on this project to Caltrans, Attention Matt Fowler, 50 Higuera Street, San Luis Obispo, CA. 93401 no later than Wednesday, March 20.

 

For traffic updates on other state highways on the Central Coast 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 

 

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Jim Shivers

Caltrans District 5

Public Information Officer

Day 6 – finally on the home stretch, literally

After Rock Knocker talked to the tourists heading to Treebones, we headed south on South Coast Ridge Rd. At the very first blockage, our neighbor and friend, Peter, came up behind us. They could have both gotten under these trees, but I was too tall. Peter drove 3 miles past his own turn to see us all the way to our back gate. What a guy! Inside the gate, the top of a dead pine came down.  I’ll just let the photos speak for themselves.

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Incoming Weather

From Daniel Swain of Weather West blog:

Lots of uncertainty remains. But potential appears to be growing for major warm rain event in California about a week from now. Recent model runs have started to hint at major flood potential given large snowpack. We should know more by Sunday (will have blog post then). 

Will Nacimiento open up?

I sat in the parking lot of Denny’s, using my iPad to constantly check the CHP website. The last posting was that CHP was trying to figure out whether the USFS or FHL Fire would be able to clear it. I watched the site like a hawk, and answered some emails, and PMs and DMs, etc. and while I waited. After about an hour, as I was typing a message, it occurred to me that I could call FHL Fire and find out, so I did. I headed out to the west.

I saw Rock Knocker on the road and we stopped. He needed gas and propane, so we ran back into King City for his supplies, and so he could grab a quick bite at Burger King, and then we were back on the road again, and I was able to get my shoulders down from my ears, where they had been “perched” for days due to stress & anxiety.

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We caravaned across FHL. This is the Nacimiento River (apparently it is the San Antonio River – I have been incorrect all these years?) at full steam. Love that view!

After we crossed into the Los Padres National Forest, when the road follows the river, RK stopped at one point to ask me to keep up. I was trying, really, but that Sprinter is a big thing. Because I was “trying to keep up” I couldn’t stop to get a couple photos I wanted of waterfalls coming right out of the rocks and flowing across the road. It was both amazing and alarming!

Finally, at about 3 pm, we got to South Coast Ridge Road. A BMW behind us stopped at the intersection in confusion, seeing us turn onto the dirt, so RK stopped, got out, and went to speak with them. They were on their way to Treebones. See, John Handy? I told you that those seeking out your place would still be coming, even with the road closures.

Anyway, they went on their way. RK and I switched to High Range 4×4 and proceeded on… (to be continued.)

 

Highway One to be fully open at 4 pm today

UPDATE #8–TRAFFIC ADVISORY**

HWY. 1 FULLY REOPENS WITH PAUL’S SLIDE OPENING AT 4 PM TODAY; MUD CREEK REOPENED YESTERDAY AT 4 PM

MONTEREY COUNTY — Caltrans has received confirmation from National Weather Service (NOAA) data that the significant storms have passed in the areas of Mud Creek (PM 8.9) and Paul’s Slide (PM 21.6) on State Route 1 in the Big Sur area. Caltrans Geotech, Maintenance Design and Maintenance crews assessed all road areas within the closure limits earlier today. Contractor and Caltrans crews are busy cleaning and clearing slide material from the roadway. As a result, Highway 1 fully reopens with Paul’s Slide opening at 4 pm today, Wednesday, Feb. 6; Hwy. 1 at Mud Creek reopened to thru traffic yesterday, Feb. 5 at 4 pm.

Thanks to the Big Sur community and coastal travelers for their cooperation and patience.

Photos of Paul’s Slide (PM 21.6) from yesterday, Feb. 5, show big boulder (left) and its removal (middle). Last pic shows several large boulders remain on top of hillside (right), which are being worked on today.

# # #

With 2 weeks of groceries on board…

… I had to get a cooler and some ice. There were a few other things that I could use, so I decided to get on the other side of the Santa Lucias and head to the Target in Paso Robles, where I picked up an igloo ice chest and ice and a few miscellaneous items (that I cannot even remember, now).

Blue skies encouraged me to head East, to be in a position to go up Naci, if the opportunity presented

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I decided on the RV park at Camp Roberts (I am a vet with DoD ID, and allowed) which is a “no-frills” place to park with full hook-ups, which I didn’t need. The price was fine, and I would not have to worry about a knock in the middle of the night. I signed up for 2 nites, but when I woke, there was a break in the weather …

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This was my view upon awakening. Note the Luci light in the windshield gathering sunlight. (Thank you Anni Agren for introducing me to these little wonders.)

So I left messages for Rock Knocker and Son, to see if one of them, could run interference on South Coast Ridge Road with their chain saw for me. Son said he would be able to meet me just after dark, so I headed to King City for diesel and breakfast at Denny’s.

After breakfast, Rock Knocker called and agreed to run interference for me during the daylight and I breathed a sigh of relief. Contacted Son, and suggested he get to the Hermitage to spend the night, and he did.

At 11:30 am – a friend contacted me re a tree down blocking Nacimiento Rd. 2 miles east of the summit. Damn, double damn…now what? (To be continued…)

 

 

Highway One Closure Update

Today’s Date: February 5, 2019 at 2 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 #7–TRAFFIC ADVISORY**

HWY. 1 AT PAUL’S TO REMAIN CLOSED UNTIL TOMORROW AT 4 PM; SECTION OF HWY. 1 AT MUD CREEK SLIDE WILL REOPEN AT 4 PM TODAY

MONTEREY COUNTY — Caltrans has received confirmation from National Weather Service (NOAA) data that the significant storms have passed in the areas of Mud Creek (PM 8.9) and Paul’s Slide (PM 21.6) on State Route 1 in the Big Sur area. Caltrans Geotech, Maintenance Design and Maintenance crews assessed all road areas within the closure limits earlier today. Contractor and Caltrans crews are busy cleaning and clearing slide material from the roadway. As a result, Highway 1 will remain closed to through traffic until tomorrow, Wednesday, Feb. 6 at 4pm due to heavy mud and boulders on the roadway. However, section of Hwy. 1 at Mud Creek will fully reopen to thru traffic by 4 pm today, Tuesday, Feb. 5.

Motorists will encounter a flagging operation tomorrow with one-way reversing traffic control at Mud Creek to allow for Caltrans to continue roadwork in this area.

Thanks to the Big Sur community and coastal travelers for their cooperation and patience.

More pictures will follow as our crews onsite are out of cell service. An update is tentatively scheduled for mid-morning tomorrow, weather and progress dependent

It was a turn out I used a lot in the 90s…

…when I was going to Cal Poly to add a teacher’s credential to my repertoire. I went to it again in my time of need. Even though it had a “No camping, $200 fine” sign, it was a cold, dark, and stormy night…so I figured the chances were that no cops would be checking. If they did, I had the perfect defense….Necessity. Yes, it is a real defense, and I had it in spades. It was getting dark, the storm was already here. It was crazy to drive further with the rain and wind in a BIG box, so I stopped.

At 4:30 am, I woke, not because of the storm, but because I had to pee. Shortly after I woke, the storm hit full force – I mean full force. The rain was pulmetting the van – a metal box can cause the rain to amplify – and the wind was rocking it, literally. I was in a pull-out immediately adjacent to the ocean. The rain and wind were so strong that I thought the van was going to be flipped. Missy, my dog, and I were completely freaked out. At one point, I crawled into the driver’s seat to turn on the headlights to see what was going on because – this is hard to believe – I was questioning whether this was the storm, or whether I was being hit by monster waves. Yes, that’s how bad it was.

Once I found out it was just a monster storm, Missy and I settled in, awake, to wait for daybreak. We slept no more. We cuddled.

At daybreak, this is what I saw;

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And so, I traveled onward and southward. (To be continued…)

Highway Closure Update

**UPDATE #5–TRAFFIC ADVISORY**

CALTRANS CLOSURE OF HWY. 1 AT MUD CREEK/PAUL’S SLIDE TO CONTINUE THROUGH TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 5

MONTEREY COUNTY — Caltrans has received confirmation from National Weather Service (NOAA) data that a significant storm will continue in the areas of Mud Creek (PM 8.9) and Paul’s Slide (PM 21.6) on State Route 1 in the Big Sur area over the next 24 hours. The previously announced highway closure will continue today between Ragged Point (SLO PM 72.87) to Gorda (MON PM 10.12).  The Highway 1 closure, for traveler safety, will include the areas of Mud Creek and Paul’s Slide and will remain closed today, Monday, Feb. 4 until further notice. SEE ATTACHED CLOSURE MAP.

Storm activity is currently forecast through Tuesday, Feb. 5th.

Businesses along the Big Sur Coast on Hwy. 1 remain open and are accessible via Highways 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 currently anticipate this to be Tuesday, Feb. 5th.  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.

An update will be provided Tuesday, Feb. 5th during the afternoon hours or sooner.