Hwy. 1 bridge work to slow traffic, block beach access in SLO County. Here’s where
Drivers will face traffic delays on a key stretch of Highway 1 due to construction, according to Caltrans.
Crews are working to replace a bridge north of Morro Bay, resulting in “long-term traffic control” for travelers and blocking access to a local beach, the California Department of Transportation said in a news release.
Travel will be “reduced to a single lane throughout the project area,” Caltrans said.
The $6.8 million construction project is expected to take more than a year, Caltrans said.
Here’s what to know:
When is Highway 1 construction? Where?
Crews will begin working Tuesday, April 7, to replace the southbound Toro Creek Bridge structure, according to Caltrans.
On Highway 1, the construction zone will span from half a mile north of Yerba Buena Street in Morro Bay to a half-mile north of Chaney Avenue in Cayucos, the state roads agency said.
“One lane of travel will remain open in each direction at all times,” Caltrans said, with 5-foot-wide shoulders for bicycle access.
At the start of construction, travelers heading in both directions will be redirected to the No. 2 right-hand lane, the release said, to allow two weeks of work in the center median.
During construction, parking areas on the southbound shoulder of Highway 1 will be closed, Caltrans said. Roadwork will also block parking and access to the nearby Dog Beach.
What’s next for roadwork?
During the second phase of construction, drivers on southbound Highway 1 will be directed on to the northbound Toro Creek Bridge structure.
Both northbound and southbound drivers will share the bridge, according to Caltrans.
How long will bridge project take?
Caltrans said it plans to demolish the southbound bridge structure and build a new bridge in its place, noting that northbound bridge structure has already been replaced.
Roadwork should be complete by June 30, 2027, the state roads agency said.
You can stay updated by following Caltrans’ District 5 on X, Facebook and Instagram.
This story was originally published April 6, 2026 at 11:36 AM.
