On Saturday, March 30, during heavy rain, a slip-out occurred on Highway 1 near Big Sur just south of the Rocky Creek Bridge that led to the closure of the highway in both directions at Palo Colorado Road.
On Sunday, after an examination of the roadway over the slip-out by engineers, one lane of Highway 1 was opened to temporarily evacuate motorists via convoy. Some 1,600 visitors went through. Six hotels offered to help affected travelers and residents. Convoys were cancelled when rain was forecasted for two days.
On April 12, Caltrans announced that initial repairs to stabilize the road could be complete by Memorial Day, May 27. This would end convoys and allow alternating one-way traffic using 24/7 signalized traffic control.
“We know how important Highway 1 is to the regional economy, especially during the summer, so we are working to reopen the roadway as quickly and safely as possible while at the same time making it more resilient to future extreme weather events,” said Caltrans Director Tony Tavares.
For updates on Highway 1 repairs and convoy times: www.readymontereycounty.org/emergency/rocky-creek-slide
“Although it was Easter Sunday, it was important to visit the location of the slip-out in person in order to get an idea not just of the extent of damage, but also the difficulty that lies ahead for Caltrans in its effort to repair that section of the roadway,” Panetta said.
He said he will coordinate with state and local partners in their efforts to repair Highway 1 and ensure that the Federal Highway Administration plays its part to provide any possible reimbursement for emergency repairs.
Panetta added, “Although this section of road will be difficult to fix, Caltrans continues to do remarkable work when it comes to repairing this highway. They do so in tough locations and in a timely and safe manner so that the residents of that area have access and we can continue to experience the beauty and magnificence of Highway 1.”
Three major slides occurred on Highway 1 due to epic rain in January 2023 closing the highway, and the Paul’s Slide area near Limekiln State Park has yet to reopen.
Due to the road slipout, all State Parks in the Big Sur area are closed to day use and camping. This includes Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park, Andrew Molera State Park, Limekiln State Park, Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park and Point Sur State Historic Park.
All camping reservations will be cancelled, and refunds will be processed, State Parks said.
An exact timeline on when these parks will reopen depends on road repairs. For more on those repairs, contact Caltrans.
The Highway 1 shut down is also bad news for the people who work in hotels, restaurants and other attractions such as Esalen.
Caltrans reported the contractor worked through the weekend with the goal of having a schedule for completion of the temporary roadway stabilization.
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For updates, see www.bigsurcalifornia.org/highway_conditions.html
TOP PHOTO: On Easter Sunday, U.S. Rep. Jimmy Panetta (D-Carmel Valley) surveys damage from a recent slip-out on Highway 1 near Rocky Creek.