Highway 1 to Big Sur will stay closed after storm-related rockslides block scenic route
After more than 12 inches of rain fell in 24 hours along Highway 1 on the landslide-prone Big Sur Coast this week, it’s no surprise that there was some damage to the spectacular, but often fragile, oceanfront route.
Caltrans announced Tuesday it will extend its preemptive closure of Highway 1 indefinitely while it makes repairs and conducts rockfall cleanup to the route between Ragged Point at the northern edge of San Luis Obispo County to almost 45 miles north to Deetjen’s Big Sur Inn.
Caltrans temporarily closed that portion of the roadway Sunday, ahead of a winter storm that was expected to drench the region in inches of rain.
According to the Caltrans media release Tuesday, the agency has “initiated a $1.3 million emergency contract with Papich Construction” for rockfall removal and repair of the rockfall system at Cow Cliffs, slide and debris removal at Paul’s Slide and damage repairs at the Caltrans Willow Springs maintenance station.
“Despite 12 inches of rain in 24 hours at some of the peaks, most portions of Highway 1 on the Big Sur coast fared well during the recent rain event, including those affected by the January 2021 storm,” read the release.
Crews will continue to asses the stability and safety of the closure areas on a day-to-day basis during daylight hours whenever it is safe to do so, according to the release. Once Caltrans deems it safe to modify the closure parameters or reopen the road entirely, the agency will do so.
Motorists on both ends of the closure will be notified on message boards and directional signs, and barricades and cones will block access to the area.
Will Highway 1 closure impact holiday traffic?
Meanwhile, businesses along the route and to the north and south, and in Big Sur itself, are preparing for yet another hit to their holiday commerce from visitors.
This is often a busy time of the year, as people start to arrive in town for long vacations or holiday celebrations with friends and family.
Lorienne Schwenk, executive director of the Cambria Chamber of Commerce, took an upbeat tack about the extended closure.
Yes, there’s damage and debris up there, she said late Tuesday, but it also could have been much worse.
Schwenk acknowledged, however, that runoff, rockfall, erosion and other damage can escalate for a time after a big storm, and more rain is in the forecast.
“That’s what life is in Big Sur,” she said. “The road gets closed every so often. I’m sure they’ll get it fixed as soon as they can. I’m grateful for the rain and for the people willing to work on the road. We can wait.”
This story was originally published December 14, 2021 at 5:01 PM.
