UPDATE: Highway 1 at south end of Big Sur to be closed two more days

UPDATE 3:20 p.m. Monday Highway 1 will be closed at Alder Creek, at the south end of Big Sur, for at least two more days, Caltrans announced Monday afternoon, while crews continue to clear the road after Sunday's mudslide.

UPDATE 10:37 a.m. Monday A second slide at the south end of Big Sur continues to block Highway 1 on Monday.

The latest slide tumbled rocks and mud onto the roadway south of Gorda on Sunday, just as work was almost done on opening the road south of Lucia, near Limekiln, after it was blocked by a slide Thursday.

The north end of the highway through Big Sur remains closed at Bixby Bridge, where 60 feet of road fell down the hillside March 16. It's estimated it will take until April 16 to reopen that part of the highway.

For now, residents and visitors have just one road in and out of the 52-mile stretch between the slides, over narrow, twisting Nacimiento Fergusson Road to King City.

Another option is helicopter shuttle service, which started today from Little Sur River in Big Sur to Rocky Point restaurant south of Carmel. Rides are $60 each.

UPDATE 9:15 p.m. Sunday A new mudslide Sunday has closed another section of Highway 1 about three miles south of Gorda in southern Monterey County, according to Caltrans.

The slide about eight miles north of the San Luis Obispo-Monterey county line shut the road down Sunday night just hours after reopening to escorted traffic.

It marks the fourth straight night the highway has been closed in Big Sur.

Caltrans expects to issue another update on Monday morning.

UPDATE 3:30 p.m. Sunday Caltrans reopened Highway 1 through Big Sur near Limekiln State Park to escorted traffic for an hour at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. and plans to do escorts continuously – including overnight – starting at 6 p.m. today.

The agency says that several tons of mud have fallen onto the road, but crews made progress on Saturday after the rain stopped.

However, drivers should stay alert because conditions could change at any moment.

The agency expects to issue another update on the highway’s status on Monday morning.

UPDATE 12:35 p.m. Saturday Highway 1 near Limekiln State Park will remain closed for a third night, Caltrans announced today.

The agency still has no estimate on when at least one lane will be reopened, according to a news release. Crews will continue working to remove mud and rock blocking the roadway until dusk, weather permitting.

Another update will be issued on Sunday morning.

UPDATE 5:04 p.m. Friday Caltrans crews continue to try to clear tons of rock and mud from Highway 1 near Limekiln State Park, but won’t be able to clear a traffic lane before dark, so the only remaining access road to Big Sur will be closed for a second night, the agency announced this afternoon.

Caltrans said an update on the projected reopening will be issued Saturday morning. For updates on Monterey County roadwork, call 888-836-0866 or go to www.dot.ca.gov/dist05/projects. Call 800-427-7623 for statewide updates.

Original story: Caltrans continues to work on clearing Highway 1 on the south end of Big Sur, but has no new estimated time of reopening the highway, the agency announced this morning. It said it may be able to say this afternoon when at least one lane of the road near Limekiln State Park will reopen.

Highway 1 between Cambria and Carmel continues to be closed in two areas, because of a mudslide early Thursday about 25 miles south of Big Sur, and the collapse of the roadway on March 16 at Palo Colorado Road north of Big Sur. Caltrans hopes to be able to reopen the northern end by April 16.

For now, a 40-mile stretch of highway remains cut off from outside access.

Businesses on either side of the closures remain open, as does Hearst Castle.