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 will close 1/14/19 at noon

24-HOUR TRAFFIC ADVISORY**

TEMPORARY CLOSURE OF 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 for this week including 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 preemptive closure of the roadway scheduled for Noon (12 PM) Monday, Jan. 14 due to a significant storm. A final notice will be sent just prior to the roadway closing. 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 at Noon (12 PM) on Monday, Jan. 14. Please stand by for additional information.

Area of closures:

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Mud Creek:

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Paul’s Slide:

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Beach Hazard Statement

In light of yesterday’s heartbreaking incident at Garrapata State Beach, I offer the following PSA announcement from NWS/NOAA

“Beach Hazards Statement in effect from 9 AM Sunday through late Sunday night for west to northwest facing beaches along the Central Coast from Sonoma County through Monterey County. There will be an increased risk of sneaker waves. Never turn your back to the ocean!”

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Search and Rescue at Garrapata State Beach today

Here are the photos taken by Brendon Shave. My understanding from information provided to me is that the young man is local, from Monterey and only 18 years old. He was with 3-4 other friends. As of this writing he has not been found, nor any body recovered. I had a ton of photos that I kept whittling down to these 11. It still takes a while to load.

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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.

Highway One Closed

I received notice this morning after midnight (I was asleep and just got up for a few moments at 3 am) that CHP requested Cal Trans close the highway at Fuller’s (MM 42) and Ragged Point at 10:11 pm. Cal Trans closure were to be set up 20 minutes later at Fuller’s and 1-2 hours at Ragged Point due to small slides in numerous locations.

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