Tag: Rocky Creek Viaduct

Rocky Creek Viaduct update with photos

Below is an update I received today from one of the inspectors at the Rocky Creek jobsite:

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“CIDH piles for bents 3, 4, 5 an 6 are complete. Contractor is currently working at bent 2 pile. The average production rate for the piles is still approximately 1 pile per week. However, bent 2 pile may take longer as drilling can only be performed during the night under full closure due to space constrains. Placement of the piles is on schedule.”
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I have attached a photo below that illustrates this information:

(See attached file: Updated drilling locations.JPG)

Also, I’m going to be on a Monterey TV program tomorrow discussing the Rocky Creek project as well as the Pitkins Rock Shed project. Not sure if you can get this program where you are but I thought I’d mention it. Below is a link to more information.

http://montereytelevision.com/YourTown.htm

Have a good day!

Ken

20121127-190712.jpg

Also, here is a photo of a bridge showing the part labeled “the bent.”

20121128-110830.jpg

Rocky Creek Viaduct web page

Cal Trans has established a web page devoted to this project. At the current time (I just checked it) it only has the artists rendering of how it will look when one is driving upon it. However, just today, Ken, the project manager, renewed his commitment to post all news releases and closure schedules on this page. I am posting a link here, but it will also “live” above in my permanent first post, called “Notices.”
Rocky Creek Viaduct Project
Bookmark it!

Further, Cal-Trans is announcing this afternoon that the first overnight closure has been moved up a day to Sunday October 14th, starting at 9 pm. Unless notified otherwise, assume that this is the beginning of the Sunday through Thursday closures, and that these overnight closures will last the rest of the week, opening up for Friday and Saturday.

Also note, we may have our first rain come in tomorrow. Will probably be scattered and not much, but anything to settle the dust will be most welcomed. Will check on this and post more later.

And another note, yesterday afternoon and evening saw two fires. One north at Jack’s Peak, and one south at Pico, just north of San Simeon. Both contained rapidly.

Jade Festival count down, accident, fire, and other updates

First, the count down for the Jade Festival is here – 4 days. Kirk Creek campground was full this am, as well as this pm. There are still spaces available at Plaskett Creek.

There was a motorcycle accident at the Little Sur that closed down the highway for about 3/4 of an hour.

There was a wildfire down near Hearst Castle that was contained within 1/2 hour.

Finally, there is another community meeting about the Viaduct on Wed at the Big Sur Lodge at 10 am. Not much in terms of new info.

“Hi Everyone,

I’ve scheduled a public informational meeting for this Wednesday, October
3, at 10:00 AM at the Big Sur Lodge to discuss the construction of the
Rocky Creek Viaduct. The meeting format will be similar to the September
14 meeting in that we will give a brief summary of the project features and
then take questions.

There will not be a lot of new information but there will some. This
meeting is really intended for those who were not able to participate in
the last one.

Hope to see you all there!

Sincerely,

Ken Dostalek
Caltrans, District 5
Div. of Project Management

Office Phone: (805) 549-3133”

Life on the coast is never boring.

Question of the day, re Rocky Creek closure

I asked the project manager “Local wants to know if that [walking across closure at night] will be allowed. She has classes 2 nites a week.
bigsurkate, on a mountain top in Big Sur

He answered “Hi Kate. Unfortunately for safety reasons we can’t allow the general
public to walk through during the night closures. We tried to think of
ways to allow it, but construction activities would be going on much too
close to the path they would be using.

Thanks,
Ken”

Rocky Creek Viaduct closure, press release number 1

This came yesterday, but I had already provided the basic info through advance notice and had some other things I wanted to post about. These notices of closures and the impact on community and visitors will hopefully develop a rhythm of their own, and I will only be posting about this once a week, but until that rhythm gets established, I’ll just go with it here.

“Today’s Date: Thursday, September 27, 2012
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

HIGHWAY 1/ROCKY CREEK VIADUCT PROJECT IS UNDERWAY—
OVERNIGHT CLOSURES TO BEGIN OCTOBER 11

MONTEREY COUNTY – Following the survey results from the Big Sur community,
the hours for full closures of Hwy. 1 at Rocky Creek will be 9 pm to 7 am
beginning Thursday, Oct. 11 through the end of February, Caltrans officials
have announced.

Roadwork will occur seven days a week, 24/7 with one-way signalized traffic
control. Traffic will be stopped for 10 minutes at a time. However, full
overnight closures will take place five nights a week Sundays through
Thursdays.

The project to construct a permanent viaduct about 15 miles south of Carmel
near the Rocky Creek Bridge along Highway 1 began on Sept. 4. Completion is
scheduled by Labor Day 2013, weather permitting.

This project came about after a roadway slipout caused severe damage to the
southbound lane and required Hwy. 1 to be closed from north of Big Sur and
south of Carmel at Rocky Creek from March 17 through April 16, 2011. The
contractor for this $12 million project is Golden State Bridge Inc. of
Martinez, CA

In order to minimize traffic impact as part of the project, there will be
advance notification for motorists, residents and businesses via a traffic
hotline, electronic message signs and email notifications.

Caltrans reminds motorists to move over and slow down when driving
through highway work zones.

For more information, please visit: http://www.dot.ca.gov/dist05/projects/
or contact the Hwy. 1 Cambria to Carmel Toll-Free Hotline at 888-836-0866.”

Big Sur Jade Festival, road closures, and other stories

First let me notify everyone that the 21st Jade Festival is almost here. It will be held, as always, at Pacific Valley School. It will be held Friday, Oct.5 from noon to 6, Saturday, 10-6, and Sunday 10-5. This year, it will be important to close down on time on Sunday so that vendors can pack up and get through Rocky Creek before they close the road. Other than that, the closure should not affect the festival. As has become standard, we have lots of music, good food, jade, and other gems, good family fun. As it is held at the school, and is a family event, no alcohol or drugs allowed and all furry family members must be on a leash.

Second, I am getting lots of inquiries regarding the Rock Creek closures. I will post all announcements of closures right here on my front page as soon as i get them. I have posted six different times so far, so I will give a simplified or Readers Digest version here. Basically, if you plan on night closures every Sunday-Thursday night from Oct 8th thru the end of January, you won’t be surprised and caught off guard. (we will know the exact 10 hour closure time next week, but so far, it is looking like 9 pm-7am?) During the day, the road will be one lane, controlled traffic. While delays are supposed to be only 10 minutes, I got reports of 1/2 hour delays today. Give yourself extra time to make it to work, or your lunch reservation, or whatever brings you down our way. Get to know the visitor in the car behind you or in front, take photos of the stoppage, enjoy your time here.

Other stories? Okay, I admit. I made that up. Let me see if I can find a photo for you.

20120926-192924.jpg

Rocky Creek Closures meeting

Hi Everyone.

Please join us at the Big Sur Lodge at 10:00 AM this Friday to discuss traffic management on the Rocky Creek Viaduct project. The main speaker for Caltrans will be the District 5 Chief of Maintenance and Operations, Steve Price,

Possible topics for discussion, listed below, are based on questions I’ve been receiving from the Big Sur community over the last few days.
Why does the highway need to be closed?
Can the start time of the closure be moved to later in the evening?
Can the highway be opened up for a limited amount of time during the night to allow passage?
Did Caltrans notify the community of the need for these closures?
Other questions.

I’m looking forward to meeting you all. There will be hot coffee and tea waiting for you when you arrive.

Thank you,

Ken Dostalek
Caltrans District 5
Project Management
(805) 549-3133